Their dense, short under-fur is overlain by darker, coarse guard hairs that help repel wa⦠Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company. Large and highly active members of the weasel family, river otters have big appetites. Species: Lontra canadensis No children of Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis) found. View in other NatureServe Network Field Guides, It seems your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. A female river otter exhibits delayed implantation of her fertilized egg, so that it will not implant on her uterus for several months. Its thick, powerful tail makes up nearly 20 inches of that length. River otters are apex predators in their food web. 2012. 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. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado. Northern River Otter Lontra canadensis. Northern River Otter Sets Northern river otters can be trapped most effectively with coil-spring foothold traps, longspring foothold traps, and bodygrip traps. Heâs trying to climb up the pipe!â It was then that the explainer in me wanted to jump in and say, actually, no. Perhaps higher human-caused mortality than reported. Williams, P.C. This tail serves to propel the otters through water. The animal slides down mud and snow seemingly for the sheer delight of it. Otters have sharp claws on their feet to catch prey. Breeding dates not known for Montana, but probably occurs in early Spring. These pups stay with their mother until autumn. Its numbers have been greatly reduced through loss of habitat and through hunting and trapping in most of its former range. Otters often are found in aquatic habitats associated with beaver activity and in shallow pools or below small dams where fish are concentrated. Redmond. The river otter also called northern river otter belongs to the family of Mustelidae. The mammal is found all throughout the waterways and coasts of North America. Their thick fur made them highly prized for their pelts. In 1986, the Ohio Division of Wildlife began a seven-year project to reintroduce the species to the state. 1998. 1302 p. Hutto, R.L. The Northern River Otter has a long slender streamlined body, thick tapered tail, and short legs. Once abundant throughout the watersheds of the United States and Canada, river otter numbers suffered greatly due to hunting by humans. It is more nocturnal in summer and its eyes reflect a faint amber glow at night. The Northern River Otter is found both in Canada and the United States. On average, otters range from 36 to 50 inches long from their head to the tip of the tail. Enlarge Image . J. Dianne Dotson is a science writer with a degree in zoology/ecology and evolutionary biology. Generally solitary, river otters do engage in play when they meet. North American river otters are the only river otter that is found north of Mexico. R1-93-34. Bats of the Rocky Mountain West; natural history, ecology, and conservation. These are river otters. 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. You can download select species by searching or when you're on a Taxa page like Class, Order, and Family. River otters do not store food or hibernate in winter. Hendricks, C.R. North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. It has a long, slender body covered in brown, water proof fur. Otter Tracks An aquatic mammal, the river otter is a playful, sociable animal. Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database. The face is short with small ears. It has 36 teeth. 289 p. Dobkin, D. S. 1992. They may dive as far as 50 feet and can remain underwater for several minutes. The male reproductive system contains a penis, testes, scrotum and more while the female reproductive system contains a vagina, ovaries, etc. 2004. Here is a to the audio instead. 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. This animalâs 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. River otters can be found throughout much of the United States, Canada and Mexico around the Rio Grande and Colorado River deltas. Today, reintroduction efforts and stricter environmental regulation aid the increasing numbers of river otters. Report to U.S. Forest Service Region 1. This tail serves to propel the otters through water. The adult Northern River Otter in Montana weighs around 20 pounds and measures close to 47 inches long. A North American river otter had traveled to and set up camp in San Francisco for the first time in over 50 years. Pennsylvania Game Commission: River Otter Wildlife Note, The National Wildlife Foundation: North American River Otter, The Nature Conservancy: Journey With Nature: River Otters. The long whiskers around their noses, called vibrissae, aid in food searches in murkier waters. The female births a litter of two to four pups in the spring. Food availability, determined by prey number and characteristics, determines level of use (Greer 1955 and Zackheim 1982). River otters belong to the weasel family. The river otter is Minnesota's largest aquatic carnivore that lives in most northern Minnesota lakes, ponds, and streams. A sea otter! Amphibians and reptiles of Montana. Maxell, P. Hendricks, and D. Flath. Missoula, MT: Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana. 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. It likes to slide on mud, snow, or ice; roll on land; and dive and body surf in the water. Mainly fish. The river otter food chain also includes aquatic plants and roots. They enjoy carp, sunfish, minnows, suckers, sculpin and salmonids such as: River otters also prefer slower-moving fish to game fish. Missoula, MT. The long guard hairs remain pliable in very cold weather (Ulrich 1986), and the dense underfur traps air to insulate it in water. Montana atlas of terrestrial vertebrates. In the right habitat, River Otters can be found throughout Georgia. Northern river otters have thick lustrous fur. Second edition. River otters play the role of apex predators, so the river otter food web represents great importance to many watersheds. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). River otters help thin invasive species and protect biodiversity. They are highly adaptable animals so as long as they have access to enough food and water they can thrive. Thornton, K.P. The river otter food chain consists mostly of fish. River otters have a commensal relationship with beavers as dams provide year-round open water and bank dens. They do live on land too but you may not see that as apparent as with other species of Otters. A lifelong writer, Dianne is also a content manager and science fiction & fantasy novelist. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. They use their long, agile bodies to swim and hunt for many prey species such as fish, amphibians, crustaceans and other organisms. River otters prefer larger fish due to ease of capture; larger prey gives river otters more energy as well. North American River Otter The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. Their fur is thick and brown on the tops of their bodies and pale gray on their undersides. They tend to stick to freshwater areas including lakes and rivers. Their toes are webbed, they have short legs and they boast a tapered tail ranging up to 15 inches long. In addition, its fur, dark brown on top, silvery or paler brown on the throat, chest, and underside, has special qualities. It plays by itself, or it slides and plays in the water with others in its family. Underwater, the river otter swims as fast as 7 miles per hour with considerable grace and agility, necessary for catching prey. For this reason, the river otter must consume food often. 429 pp. River otters reach sexual maturity at two years. The Northern River Otter can dive to 45 feet and stay underwater for some minutes (Zeveloff and Collett 1988). 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. Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, MT. 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. Young. Publication No. After an absence of more than a century, its ⦠When on land, otters occasionally fall prey to wolves and coyotes, but their principal enemies are humans. The northern river otter (Lontra canadensis, formerly Lutra canadensis) is a semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal in the Mustelidae or âweasel familyâ which includes weasels, minks, ferrets, wolverines and badgers. Young river otters prove to be the most susceptible to predators. River otters are apex predators in various watershed environments. Open-water stream channels used (Zackheim 1982). Its short, muscular legs move surprisingly well on land, and is usually seen traveling in pairs (Foresman 2012). Look for this PDF icon at the top of each page as you search and browse. 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. Maxell, D.P. River otters possess long, muscular bodies suited to their life on both land and in water. Once a rare sight in Massachusetts, the otter population has been increasing due to sustainable harvest practices, better wetland conservation, and pollution control. 161 p. Werner, J.K., B.A. Their ⦠The main locations are along the Rio Grande River and the Colorado River. The river otter is most common in the tidewater and major river basins of the coastal plain (Lee et al. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. The few natural river otter predators include bears, coyotes, bobcats, cougars and dogs. Habitats that retain open water in winter are i⦠Their toes are webbed, they have short legs and they boast a tapered tail ranging up to 15 inches long. Male otters can grow to almost 4 feet long and can weigh up to 28 pounds. They can also weigh anywhere from 11 to 30 pounds. The fur is dark brown or almost black above with lighter underside. USDA Forest Service, Northern Region. River otters use their fine sense of smell on land; below the water, their eyesight is far keener. The river otter has a long, streamlined body with dense brown fur. Their body shape aids in helping them make sudden turns to catch fish and other prey. River otters possess long, muscular bodies suited to their life on both land and in water. Image of canadensis, nature, otter - 28343614 The River Otter formerly ranged throughout the United States except in the deserts of the Southwest and West. North Fork, Whetstone River. Mammals of Montana. River otters possess special valves to seal their ears and noses while they swim underwater. Hart, M.M., W.A. River otter habitat. 2000. River otters consume both aquatic animal and plant life, with some exceptions. Without river otters, entire watershed food webs would suffer. 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. Its thick, powerful tail makes up nearly 20 inches of that length. Ecological Systems Associated with this Species. Dens and lodges are used by river otters as rest and natal sites. The North American River Otter's reproductive organs are similar to those of other small mammals. Protecting these fascinating, playful animals aids many species. River otters (Lontra canadensis) are amphibious mammals known for their swimming ability. When winter arrives, river otters will hunt under ice for food. The fat layer underneath their skin protects them from cold temperatures. Habitat relationships of landbirds in the Northern Region, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-GTR-32. These pregnant females seek shelter in dens lined with vegetation. Copyright Jeff Rice, all rights reserved. 1998, Hutto and Young 1999, Maxell 2000, Foresman 2012, Adams 2003, and Werner et al. Their body shape aids in helping them make sudden turns to catch fish and other prey. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Foresman, K.R. The river otter food web plays a crucial role in the environments the river otter calls home. Canadian Journal of Zoology: Seasonal Diet of the Northern River Otter (Lontra Canadensis): What Drives Prey Selection? Peterson, and R.L. River otters are smaller than their cousins, the sea otters. Despite its common name, the North American river otter is equally comfortable in either coastal marine or freshwater habitats. , Canada and the Colorado river to the family of Mustelidae counterbalance minor structrual deficiencies in habitat! Seek shelter in dens lined with vegetation, Dianne is also a content manager and fiction... Open water and on land ; below the water each page as you search and browse and pale on. Otter predators include bears, coyotes, but probably occurs in early Spring thick and brown the. 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