These are river otters. They may dive as far as 50 feet and can remain underwater for several minutes. Young river otters prove to be the most susceptible to predators. I, too, assumed that sea + otter = sea otter. Neotropical migrant land birds in the Northern Rockies and Great Plains. Enlarge Image . The female births a litter of two to four pups in the spring. The northern river otter (Lutra canadensis) historically lived in or near lakes, marshes, streams, and seashores throughout much of the North American continent. The long whiskers around their noses, called vibrissae, aid in food searches in murkier waters. The river otter food chain also consists of mussels, bivalves, snails, crabs, crayfish, turtles, frogs, large beetles, worms, injured waterfowl or chicks, bird eggs, fish eggs, snakes and snake eggs. Preferred HabitatIn Midwestern states, landscapes that characterize high-quality river otter habitat include a relatively high number of wetlands and high percentage of woodland or riparian habitat within about 300 yards of a river or stream. River otters are apex predators in various watershed environments. Mountain Press Publishing, Missoula, Montana. River otters have a commensal relationship with beavers as dams provide year-round open water and bank dens. The Northern River Otter has a long slender streamlined body, thick tapered tail, and short legs. Mammals of Montana. Probably breed every 2 to 3 years. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family.While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. 2004. The adult Northern River Otter in Montana weighs around 20 pounds and measures close to 47 inches long. One of natureâs most social and playful creatures, the northern river otter is often seen in pairs or groups frolicking in waterways, sliding on the mudflats or rolling on logs. The river otter has a long, streamlined body with dense brown fur. Its short, muscular legs move surprisingly well on land, and is usually seen traveling in pairs (Foresman 2012). They can also weigh anywhere from 11 to 30 pounds. Image of canadensis, nature, otter - 28343614 A lifelong writer, Dianne is also a content manager and science fiction & fantasy novelist. The animal slides down mud and snow seemingly for the sheer delight of it. Audio file courtesy of the Acoustic Atlas at Montana State University (www.acousticatlas.org), (Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version), (Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts), Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=AMAJF10010, Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest, Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland, Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland, Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland, Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland, Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill, and Valley Grassland, Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow, Rocky Mountain Subalpine Deciduous Shrubland, Beaver Institute (research, management, education), Beavers Northwest (conflict resolution, conservation, education), Identification Manual to the Small Mammals of British Columbia, Montana Department of Agriculture Vertebrate Pest Bulletins, Natural Heritage MapViewer (Statewide Database of Animal Observations), Species Accounts for Mammals of the World, Details on Creation and Suggested Uses and Limitations. Northern River Otter. They have short legs, webbed feet for faster swimming, and a long, narrow body and flattened head for streamlined movement in the water. 2012. Look for this PDF icon at the top of each page as you search and browse. 2004); Evaluating structural characteristics and distribution of each ecological system relative to the species' range and habitat requirements; Examining the observation records for each species in the state-wide point observation database associated with each ecological system; Calculating the percentage of observations associated with each ecological system relative to the percent of Montana covered by each ecological system to get a measure of "observations versus availability of habitat". Otters often are found in aquatic habitats associated with beaver activity and in shallow pools or below small dams where fish are concentrated. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). River otter habitat. The river otter is a semi-aquatic mammal found throughout Massachusettsâ lakes, rivers, and coastal habitats. J. Dianne Dotson is a science writer with a degree in zoology/ecology and evolutionary biology. The river otter food web maintains great biodiversity. Perhaps higher human-caused mortality than reported. The American river otter is a graceful and beautiful addition to many North Carolina rivers. These otters have brown-to-gray fur, and their undersides are a lighter, silvery shade. Typically such dens are makeshift, from log piles or similar natural sources, but often they will use former beaver or nutria dens as well. Hendricks, C.R. It plays by itself, or it slides and plays in the water with others in its family. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. Bodygrip traps should be used only in submersion sets. Protecting these fascinating, playful animals aids many species. You can download select species by searching or when you're on a Taxa page like Class, Order, and Family. Male otters can grow to almost 4 feet long and can weigh up to 28 pounds. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also called the Canadian otter, is the most abundant species of otter. Their toes are webbed, they have short legs and they boast a tapered tail ranging up to 15 inches long. Dianne features science as well as writing topics on her website, jdiannedotson.com. Without river otters, entire watershed food webs would suffer. Adams, R.A. 2003. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. North American River Otter The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. Thornton, K.P. North Fork, Whetstone River. Maxell, P. Hendricks, and D. Flath. After an absence of more than a century, its ⦠Overview. River otters can live up to about 10 years in the wild. This tail serves to propel the otters through water. Their fur is thick and brown on the tops of their bodies and pale gray on their undersides. It has a long, slender body covered in brown, water proof fur. It has a long tail that is thick at the base, tapers toward the tip and grows to 12 to 19 inches in length. The North American river otter was once nearly eliminated in Missouri, but thanks to restoration efforts, these powerful swimmers are once again found throughout most of the state. Williams, P.C. 289 p. Dobkin, D. S. 1992. Report to U.S. Forest Service Region 1. They do live on land too but you may not see that as apparent as with other species of Otters. 429 pp. Habitats that retain open water in winter are i⦠Copyright Jeff Rice, all rights reserved. The fur is dark brown or almost black above with lighter underside. Montana atlas of terrestrial vertebrates. Their toes are webbed, they have short legs and they boast a tapered tail ranging up to 15 inches long. Northern River Otter Lontra canadensis. 1302 p. Hutto, R.L. A North American river otter had traveled to and set up camp in San Francisco for the first time in over 50 years. It weighs around 5 â 14 kg (11 â 31 lb). IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin: Prey Preference of the North American River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Evaluated Based on Optimal Foraging Theory. Publication No. The long guard hairs remain pliable in very cold weather (Ulrich 1986), and the dense underfur traps air to insulate it in water. River otters also use fallen trees or logjams for shelter or foraging. Females typically are smaller. The mammals have thick, protective fur to help them keep warm while swimming in cold waters. Otters have sharp claws on their feet to catch prey. The Northern River Otter is found both in Canada and the United States. The river otter food web plays a crucial role in the environments the river otter calls home. Generally solitary, river otters do engage in play when they meet. Common otter is the other name for this animal. Missoula, MT: Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana. Abundant food resources may counterbalance minor structrual deficiencies in a habitat. Sighting one can be an exciting occasion for boaters, fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts because of the creatureâs secretive nature and relative rarity in some waters. River otters can be found throughout much of the United States, Canada and Mexico around the Rio Grande and Colorado River deltas. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. They live in riparian zones, which are the areas that border stream, rivers, and lakes. Habitat relationships of landbirds in the Northern Region, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-GTR-32. 1998, Hutto and Young 1999, Maxell 2000, Foresman 2012, Adams 2003, and Werner et al. Foresman, K.R. Breeding dates not known for Montana, but probably occurs in early Spring. River otters help thin invasive species and protect biodiversity. Currently, many populations along the coastal United States and Canada are stable or increasing, but this species is rare or extirpated throughout much of the Midwestern United States. Northern River Otters frequently inadvertantly caught in Beaver sets. Tobalske, B.A. For this reason, the river otter must consume food often. Northern river otters have thick lustrous fur. Redmond. The Northern River Otter can dive to 45 feet and stay underwater for some minutes (Zeveloff and Collett 1988). But instead, I held back and listened to the conversation, thinking back to ten years ago or so when I first saw river otters in the ocean. Bats of the Rocky Mountain West; natural history, ecology, and conservation. The North American River Otter's reproductive organs are similar to those of other small mammals. River otters possess special valves to seal their ears and noses while they swim underwater. River otters reach sexual maturity at two years. Their thick fur made them highly prized for their pelts. The North American river otter is a member of the mustelid or weasel family that can be easily identified by a stout body, short legs, noticeably tapered tail and dense, short, glossy fur. The face is short with small ears. The few natural river otter predators include bears, coyotes, bobcats, cougars and dogs. River otters belong to the weasel family. It has 36 teeth. Otters are considered lucky animals in many Native American cultures and the otter is a symbol of loyalty and honesty in some West Coast tribes, but in northern British Columbia and the Alaskan coast, river otters (usually called "land-otters") were associated with ghosts and drowning and were regarded by the people with awe and dread. River otters are smaller than their cousins, the sea otters. Young. and J.S. River otters do not store food or hibernate in winter. The male reproductive system contains a penis, testes, scrotum and more while the female reproductive system contains a vagina, ovaries, etc. 72 p. Maxell, B.A. Their body shape aids in helping them make sudden turns to catch fish and other prey. In addition, its fur, dark brown on top, silvery or paler brown on the throat, chest, and underside, has special qualities. Second edition. The river otter also called northern river otter belongs to the family of Mustelidae. The adult Northern River Otter in Montana weighs around 20 pounds and measures close to 47 inches long. Pennsylvania Game Commission: River Otter Wildlife Note, The National Wildlife Foundation: North American River Otter, The Nature Conservancy: Journey With Nature: River Otters. The European species (Lutra lutra) was once used to catch fish for the table. River otter habitat. River otters are apex predators in their food web. Wary in the wild, they are, nonetheless, sociable, docile, playful animals and easily domesticated. Today, reintroduction efforts and stricter environmental regulation aid the increasing numbers of river otters. The river otter food chain consists mostly of fish. They enjoy carp, sunfish, minnows, suckers, sculpin and salmonids such as: River otters also prefer slower-moving fish to game fish. When on land, otters occasionally fall prey to wolves and coyotes, but their principal enemies are humans. River otters possess long, muscular bodies suited to their life on both land and in water. Open-water stream channels used (Zackheim 1982). 1982). The river otter is Minnesota's largest aquatic carnivore that lives in most northern Minnesota lakes, ponds, and streams. They are highly adaptable animals so as long as they have access to enough food and water they can thrive. The mammal is found all throughout the waterways and coasts of North America. 161 p. Werner, J.K., B.A. Its thick, powerful tail makes up nearly 20 inches of that length. Heâs trying to climb up the pipe!â It was then that the explainer in me wanted to jump in and say, actually, no. Mainly fish. River otters (Lontra canadensis) are amphibious mammals known for their swimming ability. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado. 262 p. 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