North American River Otter
scientific name
Lontra canadensis
size
The North American river otter is about 21 to 32 inches long with a 12- to
20-inch tail. It can weigh from 10 to 30 pounds.
characteristics
River
otters have short, dense brown fur with a waterproof undercoat. A
layer of fat insulates the body. Its body is torpedo-shaped, which
is very useful for swimming. Its ears and nostrils close when submerged.
Its feet are webbed and suited for swimming. A river otter can swim
up to 7 mph and can remain underwater for 6 to 8 minutes.
behavior
River
otters are active during the day (diurnal). However, with human disturbance,
their behavior may become crepuscular (active during dawn and dusk)
or nocturnal. They are usually found no more than a few hundred meters
from the water. They often take over the former dens of beaver or
muskrats, with an entrance below the waterline and above for air
exchange.
reproduction/life span
North
American river otters have a gestation of 60 to 63 days. Pups are
born in the spring in litters of 2 to 4. After 8 months, they leave
the mother. In captivity their lifespan is about 18 years with the
record being 21 years.
diet
In the
wild, river otters eat small mammals, small fish, frogs, insects,
small birds, eggs and mollusks. At the zoo, they are fed carnivore
diet, fish with vitamins, omnivore biscuits and chicken necks.
habitat/range
River otters are found in marshes, streams and river mouths in Canada and
the United States.
status
Because
of habitat destruction and water pollution, river otters are listed
as rare under CITES App II (except in the Northwest). Good populations
exist in suitable habitat in the northeast and southeast and they
are protected and regulated by the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife.
other
The North
American otter is one of the few members of the weasel family specially
adapted to water habitats.
oregon zoo exhibit
Cascade Stream and Pond
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