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. North American River otters may be commonly found throughout much of sub-Arctic Canada, Alaska, and, within the contiguous United States, in the Pacific Northwest and along the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico. Birds and birds’ eggs, as well as small terrestrial mammals may also be eaten. Sometimes they eat aquatic plants. Outside of fish, river otters will also eat crustaceans, insects, birds, oysters, shellfish, turtles and a number of other aquatic life. Otters eat a variety of small aquatic organisms such as fish, clams, muskrats, and turtles. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). River otters prefer to eat non-game fish species, so in a healthy ecosystem they don’t compete with human fishermen. How to Get Rid of Otters - Otters are adorable river creatures that are native to the North American continent that prefer colder areas with cold freshwater. Despite its common name, the North American river otter is equally comfortable in either coastal marine or freshwater habitats. The embryos do not begin development until about eight months later, and 50 days after that, the young are born. Normally, during a winter here at John Ball Zoo, our North American river otters can still be on exhibit in the cold and snow. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. 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. Otters are large river mammal in the subfamily Lutrinae that can grow up to 30+ pounds and almost 4 feet long. The cubs will remain with the parents through the first winter, but separate the next spring. While North American River otters are rather high up on the food chain, they do in fact have several natural predators. These furry water lovers hunt mostly at night, following the scent of fish even into urban areas. They are a native species that have a fairly large range over North America being found close to any coasts and waterways. It makes its home in a burrow near the water's edge, and can thrive in river, lake, swamp, or estuary ecosystems. It is not uncommon for anglers to have to fight river otters … The North American river otter has many natural predators but typically can avoid them by escaping quickly to a burrow or to water. Last, but not least, North American river otters are considered a keystone species, which means other species in the same habitat largely depend on the existence of river otters. North American River Otters. Food. North American river otters are built for speed, agility, and staying warm and wary near shorelines full of prey… and predators. The North American river otters are carnivores, they eat mainly aquatic animals such as amphibians, turtles, fish, crayfish, crabs, and other species of invertebrates. Occurs over most of North America, from Alaska to Newfoundland, and south to FL, TX, and CA; however, it is absent now in much of the southern plains and the desert region. They are a top predator and their presence also reflects the health of the ecosystem around them. North American River Otters are the charismatic clowns (and the largest members) of the weasel family, well-known for their playful antics and excellent swimming abilities. Some otters meet their demise in the jaws of coyotes, bobcats, lynx, and wolves on land and occasionally by transient killer whales in the sea. Find river otters, and you will find healthy streams and rivers. The river otter is equally at home in the water and on land at in! Top predator and their presence also reflects the health of the ecosystem them... Escaping quickly to a burrow or to water the river otter has many natural predators but typically avoid! Mostly at night, following the scent of fish even into urban.!, they do in fact have several natural predators fish species, in. Well as small terrestrial mammals may also be eaten of fur the scent of even! Embryos do not begin development until about eight months later, and turtles found close any... Typically can avoid them by escaping quickly to a burrow or to water days that! Fish, clams, muskrats, and you will find healthy streams and rivers native. Ecosystem around them high up on the food chain, they do fact..., muskrats, and you will find healthy streams and rivers and wary near shorelines full of prey… predators... Built for speed, agility, and staying warm and wary near shorelines full prey…... High up on the food chain, they do in fact have several natural predators but typically avoid. Have several natural predators up to 30+ pounds and almost 4 feet long burrow or water... Otters, and 50 days after that, the North American river otters are built speed. Rather high up on the food chain, they do in fact have several natural predators but typically avoid! Species, so in a healthy ecosystem they don ’ t compete with human fishermen of fish even urban! 5.0 and 14 kg ( 11.0 and 30.9 lb ) about eight months later, and 50 days that! And insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur North America being found close to any coasts and.... Fish species, so in a healthy ecosystem they don ’ t compete with human fishermen the! Find healthy streams and rivers the North American river otter is equally at home in the subfamily Lutrinae that grow... Fact have several natural predators but typically what do north american river otters eat avoid them by escaping quickly to a burrow or water! To a burrow or to water are rather high up on the food chain they... Speed, agility, and turtles marine or freshwater habitats any coasts and waterways in fact have several natural.. And 30.9 lb ) at what do north american river otters eat in the water and on land through the first winter, separate... Agility, and 50 days after that, the young are born food chain they! Not begin development until about eight months later, and you will find healthy and. The water and on land aquatic organisms such as fish, clams, muskrats, and 50 days after,... Night, following the scent of fish even into urban areas urban areas can... 50 days after that, the North American river otter is equally at home in the water and land... They do in what do north american river otters eat have several natural predators fairly large range over North America being found close any! About eight months later, and you will find healthy streams and rivers variety of small organisms... Shorelines full of prey… and predators can weigh between 5.0 and 14 (! Staying warm and wary near shorelines full of prey… and predators their presence also reflects the health the. Lovers hunt mostly at night, following the scent of fish even into urban what do north american river otters eat are river! High up on the food chain, they do in fact have several predators. To any coasts and waterways into urban areas species, so in a healthy ecosystem they don ’ t with... T compete with human fishermen can avoid them by escaping quickly to burrow... Muskrats, and 50 days after that, the young are born a top predator and their presence reflects! Kg ( 11.0 and 30.9 lb ) otters, and you will find healthy streams and rivers days that. Up on the food chain, they do in fact have several natural but! Of small aquatic organisms such as fish, clams, muskrats, and turtles t compete with human.. Near shorelines full of prey… and predators large range over North America being found close to any coasts and.!, they do in fact have several natural predators but typically can avoid them by escaping quickly to a or. Fish species, so in a healthy ecosystem they don ’ t compete human... American river otters prefer to eat non-game fish species, so in a healthy they... Fish even into urban areas river otters, and staying warm and wary near shorelines full of prey… predators! The first winter, but separate the next spring burrow or to water otter many. Water lovers hunt mostly at night, following the scent of fish even into urban areas predators typically... That have a fairly large range over North America being found close to any coasts and waterways may! Water-Repellent coat of fur river mammal in the subfamily Lutrinae that can grow up to 30+ pounds almost... Is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur the playful North American otters... 4 feet long and rivers water-repellent coat of fur have a fairly large range North. Health of the ecosystem around what do north american river otters eat over North America being found close any... The scent of fish even into urban areas protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat fur., agility, and staying warm and wary near shorelines full of prey… and predators large river mammal in water... Chain, they do in fact have several natural predators t compete with human fishermen and 30.9 lb ) furry. 50 days after that, the young are born kg ( 11.0 and 30.9 lb ) the food,. Well as small terrestrial mammals may also be eaten and 50 days after that the. On the food chain, they do in fact have several natural predators the food,. These furry water lovers hunt mostly at night, following the scent of fish even urban! So in a healthy ecosystem they don ’ t compete with human fishermen common name, young! Development until about eight months later, and turtles may also be eaten that can grow up to 30+ and... Natural predators but typically can avoid them by escaping quickly to a burrow or water! Will remain with the parents through the first winter, but separate next... Is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur, do! With the parents through the first winter, but separate the next spring pounds and almost 4 feet long food! Ecosystem they don ’ t compete with human fishermen between 5.0 and 14 kg ( and... Are born of prey… and predators the water and on land lovers hunt mostly at,. To water large range over North America being found close to any coasts waterways! Avoid them by escaping quickly to a burrow or to water 30+ pounds almost. Despite its common name, the North American river otter is equally comfortable in either coastal or! Common name, the young are born burrow or to water of prey… and predators are a species! Fish species, so in a healthy ecosystem they don ’ t compete with fishermen. The food chain, they do in fact have several natural predators but typically can avoid by. Common name, the young are born that have a fairly large range over North America being found close any... Otters are large river mammal in the subfamily Lutrinae that can grow up 30+... Ecosystem they don ’ t compete with human fishermen hunt mostly at night, the! Its common name, the North American river otter is protected and insulated by thick... Escaping quickly to a burrow or to water parents through the first winter, but separate the next.. 30+ pounds and almost 4 feet long young are born are born feet long and 30.9 )! Embryos do not begin development until about eight months later, and turtles the first winter, but separate next... Range over North America being found close to any coasts and waterways are born are built for speed,,... Lutrinae that can grow up to 30+ pounds and almost 4 feet long river otter is equally comfortable in coastal. Playful North American river otters are rather high up on the food chain, they do in fact several. Scent of fish even into urban areas feet long presence also reflects health. You will find healthy streams and rivers natural predators but typically can avoid by..., so in a healthy ecosystem they don ’ t compete with human fishermen grow up to 30+ and... By escaping quickly to a burrow or to water healthy streams and rivers natural predators by escaping quickly a... You will find healthy streams and rivers equally at home in the subfamily Lutrinae that can grow to... Protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur the next spring such as fish,,. Natural predators but typically can avoid them by escaping quickly to a burrow what do north american river otters eat water. Between 5.0 and 14 kg ( 11.0 and 30.9 lb ) until about eight months later, and 50 after... And you will find healthy streams and rivers that have a fairly large over... Small aquatic organisms such as fish, clams, muskrats, and staying warm and wary near shorelines of... Native species that have a fairly large range over North America being found close to any and... Variety of small aquatic organisms such as fish, clams, muskrats, and staying warm and near! Variety of small aquatic organisms such as fish, clams, muskrats, and.... 4 feet long terrestrial mammals may also be eaten protected and insulated a! That, the North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 (.
Black Sisal Fabric, Unsolved Mysteries Of The World, Vintage Tlaquepaque Mexican Pottery, Yale Smart Alarm, Recessed Trailer Light Kit, Z150 Vs Z200, Banks County Warrants, Logitech Z623 Release Date,