Field Guide/Mammals/River Otter

North American River Otter Lontra canadensis North American River Otter (3268152782).jpg North American River Otter Mustelidae Total Length: 35-51.2 inches (889-1300mm) Tail Length: about 1/3 of total length Melquist W.E. Polechla P.J.J. Toweill D. 2003 River Otter (Lontra canadensis) G.A. Feldhammer B.C. Thompson J.A.Chapman Wild Animals of the North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation 2 708–734 Baltimore, MD Johns Hopkins University Press Height: about 7.8 inches (200mm) when on all fours Weight: 11-31 pounds (5-14kg) River otters have a long, slender body with a small head that is wider than tall. They have webbed feet on stump muscular limbs. Their fur is dark brown however appears black when wet. Occasionally they have a cream colored kerchief or belly. River otters function a lot like sea otters, but sea otters do not come on land and are slightly larger in stature. Sea otters are diurnal, and river otters tend to be nocturnal. Most major waterways in North America, although sensitive to pollution. The North American River Otter can be found in all major rivers in Minnesota. River otters reside in woods near permanent freshwater rivers or lakes with fish. They stick to a range of 2-78 km from waterways, which they roam for food and mark as their territory. One river otter will consume 1-1.5kg fish every day, so otters are mostly carnivorous . River otters tend to eat the “slower fish” that are smaller and not fished commercially. River otters also eat crayfish, crabs, small mammals, birds, some aquatic plants.Larivière S. Walton L. R. 1998 Lontra canadensis C. E. Rebar V. Haysen K. F. Koopman E. Anderson B. H. Blake publication Mammalian Species 587 1–8) http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/ October 4, 2012 River otters usually hunt at night; they are mostly nocturnal. Otters enjoy sliding on riverbanks and in snow piles, and will swim up to 29 kilometers/hour.Ellis E. 2003 Lontra canadensis Animal Diversity Web. September 23, 2012 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lontra_canadensis/ Mating season is in late winter and early spring. They have a 2 month gestation period, although pups may be born up to a year later due to delayed implantation of egg in uterus. Peak births occur in March and April, and litters average 2-3 pups. Pups are weaned after 12 weeks, although mothers will provde food for young for the first three years. Average 8-9 years wild River otters enjoy “trash fish,” the small, slow-swimming kind unsuitable for fishing. Otters are hunted regularly for pelts. They pinch their nostrils shut while underwater, and can stay under for 8 minutes. References