River Otters

Hi everyone!

Here is another blog for you to enjoy. I apologize for not having a blog in November, but there was a lot going on for me.In this blog, we will learn about a rather playful and interesting mammal that hangs around water and that is the River Otter.
   

Photo by ME.

Looking at this critter, you may think that it sure does look like a weasel and it does. Well, otters are members of the weasel family. According to A Field Guide to the Mammals. Authors William H. Burt and Richard P. Grossenheider describe otters as "...rich brown above, with a silvery sheen below, and with small ears and broad snout; feet webbed, tail thick at base, tapering toward tip."

River Otters are naturals in the water. According to The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals. Author John O. Whitaker Jr. attributes the river otter's swimming and long submerging abilities to its tail that is like a rudder and "ears and nostrils are valved to keep out water." River Otters have the ability to remain under water for several minutes.


River Otters are primarily active during the day, but sometimes will move about at night too. They are found around streams, lakes, ponds, rivers, and marshes. Although they do spend a lot of their time in the water, they do move around on land. Sometimes they will travel some distances to find other territories.

They do live in dens; either ones they build or ones that have been abandoned by other animals like beavers and muskrats.  They prefer "dens in banks, with entrance below water, or other suitable places." (Burt and Grossenheider)

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In these dens, otters will have and raise their pups ( baby otters). A really interesting thing about otters, is for a time, the males are kicked out of the dens and the females will look out for the pups on their own. Eventually, the males are allowed back into the den and family.

Otter Family. Notice the Pups. Photo from Internet

As you may have learned at a zoo or aquarium or other place you may have seen otters or have read about them, Otters are very social creatures as they often join other otters to play and sometimes hunt for food. If you are lucky, you may stumble upon some otters playing in and around the water and sometimes sliding down muddy banks along large water sources. On top of that, they sometimes will communicate with each other. I recently observed two otters playing in the water and they made some grunt and chirping-like noises. It was neat!

Pictured below are two captive otters socializing.

Photo By ME. 

In regards to what otters eat, well, they eat mainly fish and frogs, but will eat crayfish, small mammals, and other small critters.  Otters are often considered to be pests; especially by fishermen and fish hatcheries. However, they generally go after the slower moving and sickly fish first ( though they will go after healthy fish too, that's just nature) and help play a role in keeping fish populations in check (Whitaker Jr.).

I hope in reading this blog, that you have learned something about such neat animals. As always, feel free to ask me any questions you might have.