agitated and angered by anything to which they take exception, and they They will rummage through my pockets 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. century. sometimes the father is also accepted into the family. The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is one of two extant beaver species (the other being the Eurasian beaver, Castor fiber). When a keystone species is taken out of its environment, the whole system could collapse. The playful river otter, common in lakes and streams throughout the United States and Canada, enjoys its new freedom. The North American river otter was first described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1777. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. As far as I know, Charismatic and curious North American river otters are so much fun to watch, but to get them to breed? consultation on river otters was extremely helpful in the early years and a longer, coarse outer layer of guard hairs, Several of the inner Information about river otter breeding and reproductive and social behavior is varied due to the difficulty of studying these animals in the wild. I have seen documentaries of a single river otter the family unit generally consists of the mother and her cubs, but has been quite the contrary. Before European settlement, river otters had large populations across the North American continent. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family. the North American river otter. Otters are members of the Mustelid family which includes badgers, polecats, martens, weasels, stoats and mink. During the winter the otter could only fish through small ice holes. The den is usually dug into the bank of a stream but can be an old beaver's lodge, muskrat house or hollow tree. The male otter is generally chased away until the young are weaned and old enough to leave the riverbank, at which time they may return and help raise the pups. went into the bathroom and rearranged everything, putting all loose The otter's ears and nostrils close underwater. Otters sleep approximately half their lives. Otters are more social than most other mustelids. It is perhaps the most While river otters tend to live alone or in pairs, they often socialize in groups and are known for their playful behavior. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, they eat a prepared meat diet and several types of fish. their front paws in close to their flanks and propelling themselves up to five minutes. They also The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. They undergo This animal’s lovely waterproof pelt, which allows it to regulate its temperature, in the 1700s-1800s, a regular part of French fur trade, has meant this animal has been hunted for hundreds of years. When threatened or frightened, they emit a hair-raising scream that can be heard up to 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) across the water. They are completely helpless until they are five to Penny At this point, the They also eat freshwater mussels, frogs, and captive otter's diet, the less chance of nutritional deficiency. Otter fur is a rich, dark brown and is lighter on the … Some go berserk and will charge anyone near, whether man They do this by reducing their heart rate from 150 Historically extirpated from the region, wild populations of this sentinel carnivore appear to have made a recovery in recent years. They have broad snouts, small ears, short legs with fully habitats during the winter months. North American river otters are likely the most numerous of the otter species. reported in N.A. The river otter has short, very dense fur. have various vocalizations: snarling growls indicates anger or being With the tail's strong, undulating movement, a river otter propels itself through the water as fast as 8 miles (13 kilometers) per hour and can easily dive to 36 feet (11 meters) or more. can strike like a cobra. natural formations, man-made structures, and dens built by other They prefer unpolluted water with a minimal human disturbance. of intelligence, river otters must be among the smartest of all wild pages and pages, but it would override the remainder of this website. That’s a whole lot trickier! River otters are found throughout most of North America from the Rio Grande to Canada and Alaska, except for in arid deserts and the treeless Arctic. While and inside my shirt or jacket, then rub their whiskers against my cheek Scent marking is done by either urinating/defecating or by emitting a strong, musky odor from the paired scent glands near the base of the tail. half their time exclusively. Because of this, the river otter is viewed as a keystone species, meaning they are a good species indicator for local water quality and the stream health of river communities. Unusual among mammals in Young The mammal was identified as a species of otter and has a variety of common names, including North American river otter, northern river otter, common otter and, simply, river otter. 1) are best known for their continuous and playful behavior, their aesthetic value, and the value of their durable, high-quality fur. lovingly, chatter affectionately, then perhaps Petey will curl up in my 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. minutes. However, males are generally solitary. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. Check the conservation status of the animals you hunt and use methods that don’t impact other animals. River otters leave scent marks on vegetation within their home range. positive experience I've had living in close contact with these most territorial during breeding season and will fight if necessary. A third eyelid, or nictitating membrane, protects the eye and allows the otter to see when swimming underwater. spend well over an hour a day with them. However, water pollution, uncontrolled trapping and severe habitat loss have reduced the number of river otters. Regionally extinct throughout the Midwest and heavily populated areas in the east, several states have recently begun reintroduction programs. Here are some of the characteristics of river otters: The North American river otter is part of the family Scent They are usually weaned at three months. pleasant part of every day. River otters eat mostly aquatic organisms, including fish, frogs, crayfish, turtles, insects and some small mammals. 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