Frequent grooming retains insulation and waterproof qualities of the fur. River otters breed in late winter or early spring. Found throughout the United States and Canada. They are fast, agile swimmers and able to out-maneuver their prey. Length: 35-50 inches. (c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). doi: https://doi.org/10.3996/102018-JFWM-093. [33] Otters have been found to consume invasive Asian carp. The mammals have thick, protective fur to help them keep warm while swimming in cold waters. The ears appear large on its small flattened head. Sea otters have the amazing capacity of being able to eat up to 25% of their body weight in food . They have small, round heads with small eyes and ears and prominent whiskers. River Otters are good swimmers and divers, able to stay underwater for up to eight minutes. The North American river otter can be found throughout the country inhabiting inland waterways while the sea otter is primarily found in states along the Pacific coast. [34][50] Invertebrates discovered within scats or digestive tracts could most likely be a secondary food item, first being consumed by the fish that are subsequently preyed upon by the North American river otters. Twenty-two states reported increasing populations while 25 reported stable populations. Otter vocalizations consist of whistles, grunts, chuckles, snorts, chirps, and growls. The vulnerability and seasonal availability of prey animals mainly governs its food habits and prey choices. River Otter Quick Facts. We estimated that river otter distribution increased by 10.2% in the continental United States and by 13.7% in the contiguous United States during an 18-y period. Although populations may continue to increase numerically, river otters may be approaching their potential geographic distribution in the United States. Recipient(s) will receive an email with a link to 'River Otter Status, Management, and Distribution in the United States: Evidence of Large-Scale Population Increase and Range Expansion' and will not need an account to access the content. The River Otters are smaller and weigh between 10-30 pound. [1] They are now absent or rare in Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. We found that river otters have expanded their range significantly in the contiguous United States since the last assessment in 1998 (Melquist et al. Any use of trade, product, website, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Its body length ranges from 66 to 107 centimetres (26 to 42in). LIFEHISTORY AND ECOLOGY: Females are roughly one-third the size of males. Queries should be directed to the corresponding author for the article. Search for other works by this author on: Geographic ranges of North American terrestrial mammals, Interstate comparisons of river otter harvest data, North American furbearers, their management, research, and harvest status in 1976, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, [ESRI] Environmental Systems Research Institute, International trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, The North American model of wildlife conservation, Ecology of river otters in West Central Idaho, Wild mammals of North America: biology, management and conservation. Our area estimates of river otter distribution in the contiguous United States during 2016 (e.g., 5,686,140 km2) were strikingly similar (i.e., only 2.3% greater) to what Melquist et al. 2003). This kind of pollution could deplete the food supply for the otters. Since their reintroduction to Kentucky in the early 90s, they have recovered to the point that a trapping season was started in 2006, and the species is now found in all major waterways. River otters are also valued as a game species and furbearer (Melquist et al. Their tails are muscular, dorsally flattened and tapered. As a result, slow-swimming fish are consumed more often than game fishes when both are equally available. Fish and Wildlife Service, through the Division of Scientific Authority, housed in the International Affairs Program, has routinely determined that the export of river otter pelts and products from the United States has not been detrimental to their viability, thus satisfying the conditions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora agreement (Bowman et al. States reported a variety of methods that were used to monitor river otter populations. [26] Additional premolars may be present. The North American River Otter weighs on average 10 to 30 pounds and measures approximately two to four feet long from head to tail. In the Zoo, they eat meat, eggs, carrots, variety of fish (trout, catfish, herring, capelin, smelt). 1996. For many years otters have been hunted for their fur. Likewise, the potential predatory impact of otters may be considerable whenever fish are physically confined (most commonly in smaller ponds offering sparse cover or other escape options). The Ontario Trappers Association, 1150 pp. [50] Fish species frequently found in the diets of the North American river otters include: Catostomidae, which consists of suckers (Catostomus spp.) Uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world, Inspire a lifelong connection with wildlife and wild places through our children's publications, products, and activities, National Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. River otter Lontra canadensis status and management questionnaire responses by state agencies in the United States during 2016 (Hawaii excluded). River Otters can be thought of - and in a very real sense are - semi-aquatic weasels. We asked each agency expert to report 1) the legal status of river otters in their state, 2) the statewide river otter population trend, 3) the results of reintroduction efforts (if applicable), 4) the population status of river otters since reintroduction efforts, 5) the method(s) of river otter population monitoring, 6) how frequently adjustments are made to harvest regulations (if applicable), 7) and the geographic distribution of river otters in their state. Typically near bodies of water including streams, rivers, lakes and fresh and salt water marshes. Scientific name: Lutra canadensis. North Americanriver otters are typically social animals except during spring when the female drives the male away to give birth. Washington, D.C. 750 pp. [16], North American river otters can live 2125 years in captivity,[23][16] or 813 years in the wild. Males are generally larger than females. They live in riparian zones, often in the same areas as beavers. The Lower Alabama River begins at the Claiborne Lock and Dam and runs south 72.5 miles through Monroe, Clarke, and Baldwin counties where it joins the Tombigbee River. Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators will sometimes prey on North American river otters. [56] Trappers in Alberta, Canada commonly assert North American river otters are major predators of North American beavers. [30][31] Mammals preyed upon by North American river otters are characteristically small or are a type species found in riparian zones. Now they are gone from the central and eastern United States, and extinct or rare in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. The tail makes up approximately 40 percent of the otters total length, which ranges from three to four-and-one-half feet. 2003) indicated that changes in river otter distribution occurred primarily in the contiguous United States and that river otters had expanded their range by approximately 13.7% during an 18-y period (Table 2). Raesly (2001) determined that, although it is preferable to acquire river otters from proximal populations to maximize genetic similarity and retain subspecies integrity, most jurisdictions used the most easily obtained river otters, often from Louisiana, during reintroduction projects. A long, strong tail helps propels the otter through the water. Their aquatic habitats can be both marine and fresh water: streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes. [62], The North American river otter is considered a species of least concern according to the IUCN Red List, as it is not currently declining at a rate sufficient for a threat category. 2006. Sighting one can be an exciting occasion for boaters, fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts because of the creature's secretive nature and relative rarity in some waters. As per the North American Model of wildlife conservation, river otters are held in the public trust by the government and are managed by state and federal agencies as well as by native tribes (Mahoney and Geist 2019). Catch-per-unit effort, population models, and presence vs. absence indices, such as bowhunter surveys and track surveys, were used less frequently (Table 1). 2003) using ArcMap (ESRI 2011). [26] Other fish an integral part of the North American river otters' diets are those that are often plentiful and found in large schools: sunfish (Lepomis spp. The majority of these projects were implemented in the mid-1980s and were completed by the late 1990s; only two states (New York and Pennsylvania) were actively engaged in reintroductions during 1998 (Raesly 2001). When the mothers have established their domains, they give birth to several kits. Behind-the-Scenes Encounters & Experiences, Passion into Conservation Action (PiCA) Program, Participation in the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. They have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently. Their fur is dark brown over much of the body, and lighter brown on the belly and face. Young pups are born helpless, and remain in the . North America's largest North American river otter populations were found in areas with an abundance and diversity of aquatic habitats, such as coastal marshes, the Great Lakes region, and glaciated areas of New England. [29], Amphibians, where regionally accessible, have been found in the North American river otter's diet during the spring and summer months, as indicated in many of the food habit studies. We also thank the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for logistical assistance. [23], Aquatic life ties North American river otters almost exclusively to permanent watersheds. You can copy this taxon into another guide. Methods of population monitoring included bridge surveys (presence vs. absence track surveys conducted at bridge crossings), harvest surveys, bowhunter surveys, camera surveys, winter track surveys, population models from harvest data, harvest effort, and agency field questionnaires (for detailed descriptions of these methods, we direct readers to Chilelli et al. You will often see an otter swimming for a distance up a river, popping its head out to look in your direction. Otters are extremely intelligent, playful, agile, graceful, fast swimmers. To 25 % of their body weight in food have been hunted for their fur dark! Lifehistory and ECOLOGY: Females are roughly one-third the size of males dark brown much... For up to eight minutes Lontra canadensis status and management questionnaire responses by state agencies in the Fossey! Will often see an otter swimming for a distance up a river, its! 42In ) availability of prey animals mainly governs its food habits and choices! 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