The Birmingham Zoo North American river otters are Slim, a male weighing in at 8.0kg (17.5 lbs), andLenora, afemale weighing in at 7.3kg (16 lbs.). [2008], and Roberts [2010]). Trapping, loss or degradation of aquatic habitats through filling of wetlands, and development of coal, oil, gas, tanning, timber, and other industries, resulted in local extinctions or population declines in North American river otter populations in many areas. [36] A study conducted on captive otters revealed they preferred larger fish, ranging from 15 to 17 centimeters (5.9 to 6.7in), more than smaller fish, ranging from 8 to 10 centimeters (3.1 to 3.9in), and they had difficulty catching fish species less than 10 centimeters (3.9in) or larger than 17 centimeters (6.7in). 2003). River otter dens are along the water in abandoned burrows or empty hollows. Herein we provide an updated account, as of 2016, of river otter population status and distribution in the United States and discuss conservation priorities. They can stay underwater for as many as eight minutes. Of the remaining 37 states; 24 states reviewed regulations promptly or annually and 10 states reviewed harvest regulations in cycles of 23 y; Michigan reported that regulations are reviewed every 2 to 3 years and promptly as needed (Table 1). Sometimes they eat aquatic plants. Even in larger bodies of water, river otters may take disproportional advantage of any seasonal concentrations of fish when and where only very limited areas of suitable spawning, low-flow, or over-wintering habitat may exist. Please note: The Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supplemental material. Doctoral dissertation, An evaluation of bridge-sign surveys to monitor river otter (Lontra canadensis) populations, Trapping and furbearer management in North American wildlife conservation, International Journal of Environmental Studies, This site uses cookies. The continued expansion of river otter populations where they are managed by regulated harvest is likely enhanced by the frequency of these regulatory reviews. In some regions, though, their population is controlled to allow the trapping and harvesting of otters for their fur. Twenty-two states reported increasing populations while 25 reported stable populations. The gestation period is only about two months after this delayand litter size is one to five pups, usually two, between February and April. [29], Amphibians, where regionally accessible, have been found in the North American river otter's diet during the spring and summer months, as indicated in many of the food habit studies. (2003) suggested that in 1998, as a result of wetland conservation and restoration efforts, river otters had expanded and inhabited approximately 90% of their former range. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 11(1):279286; e1944-687X. [41], Delayed implantation distinguishes the species from the European otter, which does not do this. Like fishers, martens, and mink, they have long, slender bodies, short limbs, and a short face, plus a set of adaptations for their aquatic lifestyle: an oily, waterproof coat, webbed toes, and small external ears. The animal slides down mud and snow seemingly for the sheer delight of it. Females maintain the den and give birth to an average of two to three pups every year. 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. ), and squawfishes (Ptychocheilus spp. EDITORIAL. The Sea Otters are larger and weigh between 40-95 pounds. Melquist et al. Air trapped within the fur acts as insulation when the otter is submerged. Agency-enforced regulations include restrictions on harvest, harvest season length, harvest methods, and bag limits. doi: https://doi.org/10.3996/102018-JFWM-093. The river otter was included as an Appendix II species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in 1977 as a result of concern that endangered otter species, such as Pteronura brasiliensis, could be misidentified as river otter because of a similar superficial appearance, which could lead to unintentional trade of endangered species; however, it is important to note that the river otter itself has never been considered a globally threatened or endangered species (Greenwalt 1977). (1996) and suggest that jurisdictions that allow harvest should collect information on the distribution of harvest, some measure of participation or effort, and, ideally, some estimate of age-structure of the harvest. Moreover, a western Oregon study revealed fish remains were present in 80% of the 103 digestive tracts examined. Prior to the arrival of the next litter, the North American river otter yearlings venture out in search of their own home ranges.[44]. Late seasonal breeding of river ot- ters in Yellowstone National Park. 2003). Otters have long, stiff, highly sensitive whiskers located behind and below the nose to aid in locating and capturing prey in murky, turbid water and during dark nights. [26][33], Amphibians and reptiles are more obtainable by the North American river otter during the spring and summer as a result of breeding activity, appropriate temperatures, and water supply for the prey. Males and females do not normally associate unless it is breeding season. In the wild, these otters eat a variety of fish, crayfish, frogs and aquatic invertebrates along with an occasional bird or rodent. [51], Adult North American river otters are capable of consuming 1 to 1.5 kilograms (2.2 to 3.3lb) of fish per day. [13] Fossils of a giant river otter dating back 3.5 Mya (during the Pliocene)[14] have been found in the US Midwest; however, fossils of the modern river otter did not appear in North America until about 1.9Mya. River Otters can be thought of - and in a very real sense are - semi-aquatic weasels. [23], Although commonly called a "river otter", the North American river otter is found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, both freshwater and coastal marine, including lakes, rivers, inland wetlands, coastal shorelines, marshes, and estuaries. [16] The dental formula is 3.1.4.13.1.3.2. As populations have expanded, river otter reintroduction efforts have become less frequent; two additional states had conducted reintroductions since 1998 and only one state had conducted a reintroduction since 2010. Fish is a favored food among the otters, but they also consume various amphibians (such as salamanders and frogs[3]), freshwater clams, mussels, snails, small turtles and crayfish. Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account, https://www.flickr.com/photos/spolky/14137678671/, http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4276426485_17cb92891f.jpg, http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cIzzr048_Yw/UOdMyHWi9TI/AAAAAAAAUts/jMiA2rUGxQw/P1180157.JPG, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Olympic_Nat_Park_River_Otter.JPG, http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7752408968_be9c26984a_o.jpg, http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=576969&one=T, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lontra_canadensis, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). River Otters are good swimmers and divers, able to stay underwater for up to eight minutes. Our survey indicated that <50% of the river otter reintroductions implemented in the United States were in areas where otters had been extirpated. As of 2016, >4,000 river otters have been translocated to 23 states in one of the most ambitious and extensive carnivore restoration efforts in history (Erb et al. Diet Carnivore, Piscivores Mating Habits MATING BEHAVIOR Polygyny The Lower Alabama River begins at the Claiborne Lock and Dam and runs south 72.5 miles through Monroe, Clarke, and Baldwin counties where it joins the Tombigbee River. Washington, D.C. 750 pp. In Mexico, the North American river otters lived in the Rio Grande and Colorado River Deltas. An adult river otter can weigh between 5.0and14kg (11.0and 31lb). The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter and river otter, is a semiaquatic mammal that only lives on the North American continent, along its waterways and coasts. Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators will sometimes prey on North American river otters. [20] Their tails are muscular, dorsally flattened and tapered. Jurisdictions that have harvest are afforded more monitoring opportunities through harvest-dependent data sources, such as catch-per-unit effort, distribution of harvests, and sex and age-structure of harvests. 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. [10], The North American river otter has long whiskers that are used to detect prey in dark waters. In the winter, crayfish made up one-third of the North American river otter's diet. The American river otter is a graceful and beautiful addition to many North Carolina rivers. Size Adult river otters weigh 10 to 33 pounds (4.5 to 15 kilograms) and are about 2.5 to 5 feet (76 to 152 centimeters) in length. However, North American river otters remain rare or absent in the southwestern United States. Reintroduction projects have expanded their distribution in recent years, especially in the Midwestern United States. Since inclusion under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the U.S. As of 2016, 23 states had conducted river otter reintroductions. North American river otters are very susceptible to the effects of environmental pollution, which is a likely factor in the continued decline of their numbers. (2003), we estimated that during 1998, river otters occupied approximately 6,736,558 km2nearly 65% of the land area of the contiguous United Statesand that the potential river otter range was 7,485,065 km2. River otter fur ranges from light to dark, rich brown. 1987. 1,712 River Otter Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images. Weight: 11-30 lbs. [54] However, when water levels are lower, crayfish will seek out shelter while fish become more highly concentrated and susceptible to predation. DISTRIBUTION: The Otter is having a snack as it swims by . This dilemma prevents, and consequently inhibits, recolonization or growth of North American river otter populations. [30] North American river otters generally feed on prey that is in larger supply and easier to catch. Diet (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA). [15][16] The New World river otters originated from the Old World river otters following a migration across the Bering Land Bridge, which existed off and on between 1.8million and 10,000 years ago. River otter status, management, and distribution in the United States: evidence of large-scale population increase and range expansion. [27], North American river otters are renowned for their sense of play. [20] Large male North American river otters can exceed a weight of 15 kilograms (33lb). Little effort has gone into assessing the threat of disease to wild North American river otter populations, so it is poorly understood and documented. However, urbanization and pollution instigated reductions in range area. Mink, Muskrat, Otter, and Striped Skunk. Other major food items are crayfish, frogs, snakes, turtles, insects, freshwater mussels, earthworms, and other small animals including birds. And it is a better swimmer than a mink. Identification. 2630 Cahaba Road Of the 40 states that incorporate harvest management programs, the majority used data from regulated harvest seasons (e.g., surveys of trappers, estimates of trapper effort, or collection of biological samples to estimate demographic and health parameters) to monitor river otter populations and to ensure that harvest levels were sustainable. [48], Historical records indicate North American river otters were once populous throughout most major drainages in the continental United States and Canada prior to European settlement. Only three states (Illinois, Kentucky, and North Dakota) did not provide a response to our question about regulation review frequency (Table 1). [1] Otters have recently re-established themselves on Prince Edward Island. River otter track Scientific Name. [21] It differs from the European otter by its longer neck, narrower visage, the smaller space between the ears and its shorter tail. [26]:5254, A highly active predator, the North American river otter has adapted to hunting in water, and eats aquatic and semiaquatic animals. Physical Description They have very streamlined bodies, with a well-muscled tail; both aid in swimming. 2008). We tallied responses to these questions and reported frequency of responses. [39] Remains of the much larger North American beaver have been found in North American river otter scat in some regions, although most otter dietary studies in areas where otters and beaver live near each other do not show them to be regular predators of beavers (despite the claims of fur-trappers that otters frequently hunt beavers) and perhaps only young beaver kits may be attacked. [45] In 2010, the Colorado Department of Wildlife reported the species, reintroduced in the 1980s, was "thriving" and recommended its protection status be reconsidered. [47] In Canada, North American river otters occupy all provinces and territories, except until recently Prince Edward Island. As of 2016, only two additional states had conducted reintroductions (New Mexico and North Dakota) since Raesly's (2001) previous assessment and Utah was the only state that had reintroduced river otters since 2010. River otters historically inhabited every major watershed in the contiguous United States and were extirpated from much of their historical range as a result of multiple factors including habitat degradation and destruction as well as unregulated harvest (Anderson 1977). We also thank the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for logistical assistance. CREATIVE. Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators will sometimes prey on North American river otters. Young are able to fully care for themselves at about six months of age but they do not usually leave their mother until about one year. This means they likely arrived in the Americas at a similar time as humans,[17] meaning humans were an important part of their natural ecosystem from the moment otters arrived. 351 pp. [1] They are now absent or rare in Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Typically near bodies of water including streams, rivers, lakes and fresh and salt water marshes. North American river otter populations span the North American continent from east to west, extending across 45 states from southern Florida to northern Alaska and all Canadian provinces except Prince Edward Island. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14kg (11.0 and 30.9lb). kodiak river otter. Similarly, it is possible that false-negatives occurred, particularly at lower population densities. In 1980, an examination conducted on U.S. river otter populations determined they were locally extinct in 11 states, and lost significant population in 9 other states. North Americanriver otters are typically social animals except during spring when the female drives the male away to give birth. When estimating occupied range area or river otters, we only summed the area of the counties with known presence and excluded those counties that are listed as unknown (Table S1, Supplemental Material). They have small heads that widen through the neck into a long, thickset but streamlined body. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Their playful snow and mud sliding, tail chasing, water play, and snow burrowing activities also serve other purposesthey help strengthen social bonds and let young otters practice hunting techniques. Results from this 2016 assessment provide the most recent account of river otter status and distribution in United States to our knowledge. . Males sometimes form a group with other young males until breeding season; otherwise a group of otters is typically a female with her young pups or pups from the previous litter. Only one state, Utah, had conducted river otter reintroductions since 2010. River otters use their powerful hind feet to help with propulsion and their small, dexterous front feet for paddling through the water. River otters are challenging to monitor because of their secretive nature and the fact that they naturally occur at relatively low densities on the landscape. The den typically has many tunnel openings, one of which generally allows the otter to enter and exit the body of water. Litter size ranges anywhere from one to five pups. 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