Mink are also semiaquatic animals and look the part, just like otters. River otter dens are along the water in abandoned burrows or empty hollows. Nathan M. Roberts, Matthew J. Lovallo, Shawn M. Crimmins; River Otter Status, Management, and Distribution in the United States: Evidence of Large-Scale Population Increase and Range Expansion. However, North American river otters remain rare or absent in the southwestern United States. Author: However habitat destruction and water pollution still puts these animals at great risk, especially because they are so specialized. The cessation of wide-scale reintroduction activities may suggest that the majority of suitable habitats are currently occupied by established river otter populations. Do not throw any kind of trash, fertilizers, or poisons into any body of water. Native Habitat North American river otters are natural swimmers and, with parental supervision, they acquire the skills necessary to swim. [54], During the winter and spring, when the water levels were higher, North American river otters had a greater tendency to prey upon crayfish (73% of scats had crayfish remains) rather than fish. ), and other game fish during spawning. Predators: Include the bobcat, coyote and birds of . 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. Continued monitoring of the population status and distribution at state and national levels would likely detect any significant changes should they occur. Most researchers specifically focusing on otters rarely actually see any wild otters. [50] Likewise, the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a preferred fish species for the North American river otter in other regions of Colorado. Current status of populations unknown. North American river otters can close their nostrils to keep water out during long dives. Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators will sometimes prey on North American river otters. Search for other works by this author on: Geographic ranges of North American terrestrial mammals, Interstate comparisons of river otter harvest data, North American furbearers, their management, research, and harvest status in 1976, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, [ESRI] Environmental Systems Research Institute, International trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, The North American model of wildlife conservation, Ecology of river otters in West Central Idaho, Wild mammals of North America: biology, management and conservation. River otters are also valued as a game species and furbearer ( Melquist et al. [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. Diet Length: 35-50 inches. The otters migrated to North America and southwards again across the Panamanian Land Bridge, which formed 3Mya. [36] Other prey consumed by North American river otters includes fruits,[37] reptiles, amphibians, birds (most especially moulting ducks which render the birds flightless and thus makes them easier to capture), aquatic insects, small mammals, and mollusks. Young pups are born helpless, and remain in the . [10], The North American river otter has long whiskers that are used to detect prey in dark waters. ), daces (Rhinichthys spp. 2003), excluding Alaska. The river otter Lontra canadensis is an elusive species that can serve an important role in aquatic ecosystems as a top predator of fish and crayfish. Fish and Wildlife Service. 271 pp. [20], The mothers raise their young without aid from adult males. William H. Burt and Richard P. Grossehnheider. Where an otter looks seal-like, a mink looks ferret-like, however. On land a river otter can run at speeds of up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) an hourthey can slide even faster. To compare estimates of occupied area in 1998 with our survey results, we digitized published maps depicting river otter distribution during 1998 (Melquist et al. Otters can travel several miles over land to reach another body of water to set up new territories. The playful North American river otter is well adapted for semi-aquatic living. It establishes a burrow close to the water's edge in river, lake, swamp, coastal shoreline, tidal flat, or estuary ecosystems. and redhorses (Moxostoma spp. 2018). EDITORIAL. Assessments of river otter populations within the contiguous United States have occurred periodically since their inclusion in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (e.g., Polechla 1990, Raesly 2001, Melquist et al. [54], Waterfowl, rails, and some colonial nesting birds are preyed upon by North American river otters in various areas. River otters eat a variety of aquatic wildlife, such as fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, birds eggs, birds and reptiles such as turtles. Critter Control near me kodiak river otter. River Otter Quick Facts. The North American river otters are carnivores, they eat mainly aquatic animals such as amphibians, turtles, fish, crayfish, crabs, and other species of invertebrates. [1] They are now absent or rare in Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. [23], Like other otters, the North American river otter lives in a holt, or den, constructed in the burrows of other animals, or in natural hollows, such as under a log or in river banks. They use their sensitive whiskers which help them locate prey and catch their prey with their mouth, using their paws to hold on to the prey if needed. Late seasonal breeding of river ot- ters in Yellowstone National Park. beaver river otter. Although the distribution became reduced in some regions of southern Canada, the only province-wide extinction occurred on Prince Edward Island. Their legs are short with webbed feet and claws. 2003). This reach of the Alabama River is located within a 30-minute drive of hotels, restaurants, service stations, and grocery stores in Monroeville, Grove Hill, and Jackson. They can live eight to nine years in the wild but have lived up to 21 years in captivity. (c) Diddlecome Dawcock, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). 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. Otters have five toes and the heel pad tends to be somewhat horseshoe shaped. ), and squawfishes (Ptychocheilus spp. 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. Life expectancy is less than 10 years in the wild. [23], Aquatic life ties North American river otters almost exclusively to permanent watersheds. 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. Steele Creek Recreational Center, Satsuma, AL. (c) Susan Adams, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). It has more species of fish than any other river of its size in North America.It supports 139 rare and imperiled species,including ten fish and mussel species listed under the US Endangered Species Act. North American river otters rely upon play to learn survival skills such as fighting and hunting. 2003 ). [33], Although they consume birds, North American river otters do not feed on bird eggs. [2008], and Roberts [2010]). [28] This availability is influenced by the following factors: detectability and mobility of the prey, habitat availability for the various prey species, environmental factors, such as water depth and temperature, and seasonal changes in prey supply and distribution in correspondence with otter foraging habitat. Citation: Roberts NM, Lovallo MJ, Crimmins SM. The dens have entrances underwater so they can be easily accessed from the water. Males are generally larger than females. Their aquatic habitats can be both marine and fresh water: streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes. Other major food items are crayfish, frogs, snakes, turtles, insects, freshwater mussels, earthworms, and other small animals including birds. They feed on crayfish, crabs, fish, birds, small mammals, and some aquatic plants. However, improvements in water quality (through enactment of clean water regulations) and furbearer management techniques have permitted river otters to regain portions of their range in many areas. [30] North American river otters generally feed on prey that is in larger supply and easier to catch. As per the North American Model of wildlife conservation, river otters are held in the public trust by the government and are managed by state and federal agencies as well as by native tribes (Mahoney and Geist 2019). The gestation period is only about two months after this delayand litter size is one to five pups, usually two, between February and April. Young otter pups attain sexual maturity at two years of age and at that time are driven away to establish their own territory. Recently, long-term genetic consequences of reintroduction projects on remnant North American river otter populations has been discussed. They can thrive in any water habitat, such as ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, and estuariesin cold, warm, or even high-elevation areasas long as the habitat provides adequate food. Junior League of Birmingham Hugh Kaul Childrens Zoo Alabama Wilds Trail. 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. They have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently. Their thick fur helps to protect their skin from the water and allows them to withstand cold weather. As populations grow and expand, it is reasonable to assume that some jurisdictions may shift monitoring resources toward less secure species. They are very flexible and can make sharp, sudden turns that help them catch fish. 2003). Most (n = 31, 63.3%) states used multiple methods to monitor river otter populations. River otters are also valued as a game species and furbearer (Melquist et al. Scientific name: Lutra canadensis. ), chubs (Semotilus spp. Identification. We received responses from all 48 contiguous states and interviewed agency personnel in Alaska; not all responses were complete (Table S1). The animal slides down mud and snow seemingly for the sheer delight of it. The first River Otter that I have seen and I visit the area daily. River Otters are good swimmers and divers, able to stay underwater for up to eight minutes. In many places, the populations have re-established themselves because of conservation initiatives. [50] Fish species frequently found in the diets of the North American river otters include: Catostomidae, which consists of suckers (Catostomus spp.) These harvest-dependent data can be synthesized in appropriate population models to yield a wealth of information on population status and trends (Roberts 2010). The ears appear large on its small flattened head. However, urbanization and pollution instigated reductions in range area. Their legs are short with webbed feet and claws. [1] The North American river otter existed on all parts of the Pacific Coast, including the seashore and inland streams and lakes. ", "North American River Otter National Wildlife Federation", "Basic Facts About North American River Otters", "Distribution and abundance of river otter in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota", "Food habits of the river otter in Suisun Marsh, Central California", "Feeding relationships of river otters in northeastern Pennsylvania", Food habits of the North American river otter (, "Social Networks and the Formation and Maintenance of River Otter Groups", "Art Lander's Outdoors: Once endangered river otters now likely to be found in Kentucky for generations", Colorado Otters May No Longer Need Protection, How river otters are making a comeback on P.E.I. [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. (c) Biodiversity Heritage Library, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). [35] However, North American river otters, as foragers, will immediately take advantage of other prey when readily obtainable. Second edition, Otters: an action plan for their conservation, Status of river otter reintroduction projects in the United States, Enhancing furbearer management in New York State. Results from this 2016 assessment provide the most recent account of river otter status and distribution in United States to our knowledge. (c) 2013 California Academy of Sciences, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). The North American river otter occurs in much of Canada and the United States, except for portions of the Southwest, and in Mexico in the Rio Grande and Colorado River delta areas. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to, Submit to Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management: Online Early, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management: Current and Available Issues, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management: Cover Gallery, https://doi.org/10.3996/102018-JFWM-093.S1, https://doi.org/10.3996/102018-JFWM-093.S2. River otter fur ranges from light to dark, rich brown. This expansion was facilitated by restoration programs as well as natural dispersal and expansion of established populations. When river otter presence was unknown in a county, which could occur where there is no harvest or monitoring effort (i.e., arid or remote regions), we recorded presence in those counties as unknown.' Since their reintroduction to Kentucky in the early 90s, they have recovered to the point that a trapping season was started in 2006, and the species is now found in all major waterways. Probably present statewide in association with rivers, creeks, and lakes, especially open water bordered with wooded habitat. Chilelli et al. Air trapped within the fur acts as insulation when the otter is submerged. [20] Poorly known. In some regions, though, their population is controlled to allow the trapping and harvesting of otters for their fur. Preceding the settlement of North America by Europeans, North American river otters were prevalent among aquatic habitats throughout most of the continent. These include mudminnows (Umbra limi) and sculpins (Cottus spp.). Description of metadata is included. A North American river otter's main requirements are a steady food supply and easy access to a body of water. 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. FEEDING HABITS: STATUS: Queries should be directed to the corresponding author for the article. Take the Clean Earth Challenge and help make the planet a happier, healthier place. For instance, an Alberta, Canada study involved the collection and analysis of 1,191 samples of North American river otter scat (feces) collected during each season. Subject: River Otter Status, Management, and Distribution in the United States: Evidence of Large-Scale Population Increase and Range Expansion, (Optional message may have a maximum of 1000 characters.). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [20] Large male North American river otters can exceed a weight of 15 kilograms (33lb). 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. River otters generally live alone or in small social groups. Physical Description They have very streamlined bodies, with a well-muscled tail; both aid in swimming. Periodic assessments of river otter status, population trends, and geographic distribution are needed to detect changes in populations, assess management approaches, and to identify and prioritize conservation efforts. These hydrodynamic members of the weasel family are voracious predators. You will often see an otter swimming for a distance up a river, popping its head out to look in your direction. When the pups are about two months old and their coats grow in, their mother introduces them to the water. We found that river otters have expanded their range significantly in the contiguous United States since the last assessment in 1998 (Melquist et al. [9] Other documented common names are American otter, Canada otter, Canadian otter, fish otter, land otter, nearctic river otter, and Prince of Wales otter. Impounded for the creation of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, barge traffic and recreational boats are now able to move all the way from the Tennessee River to the Port of Mobile. [2], North American river otters, like most predators, prey upon the most readily accessible species. (Figure 1). In the Zoo, they eat meat, eggs, carrots, variety of fish (trout, catfish, herring, capelin, smelt). In the absence of harvest-dependent data, presenceabsence data (such as track surveys), can indicate population distribution and trajectories (Roberts et al. [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. Our area estimates of river otter distribution in the contiguous United States during 2016 (e.g., 5,686,140 km2) were strikingly similar (i.e., only 2.3% greater) to what Melquist et al. Given the large extent of the species' range, we were limited to county-level inference. North American river otters have long whiskers, which they use to detect prey in dark or cloudy water, and clawed feet for grasping onto slippery prey. [34][50] Invertebrates discovered within scats or digestive tracts could most likely be a secondary food item, first being consumed by the fish that are subsequently preyed upon by the North American river otters. [34] A 1994 river otter study reported findings of beaver remains in 27 of 1,191 scats analyzed. The River Otters are smaller and weigh between 10-30 pound. At about two months they begin to venture out of the den to play and to learn how to swim and hunt. [56] Trappers in Alberta, Canada commonly assert North American river otters are major predators of North American beavers. Most mustelids, including otters, have 36 specialized teeth, including sharp canines and carnassials that inflict lethal bites to prey. American Midland Naturalist 156: 189-192. [32] Fish are the primary component of the North American river otter's diet throughout the year. They are fast, agile swimmers and able to out-maneuver their prey. [26][32][33] Bottom-dwelling species, which have the tendency to remain immobile until a predator is very close, are susceptible to North American river otters. 2003) using ArcMap (ESRI 2011). [1], During the 1970s, improvements in natural resource management techniques emerged, along with increased concerns about North American river otter population declines in North America. Otter.ai uses AI to write automatic meeting notes with real-time transcription, recorded audio, automated slide capture, and automated meeting summaries. Reproduction: Once yearly with an average litter of 2-3 and up to 6. Figure S1. in hatcheries or other fish culture facilities). 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. after 100 years, "Final report of the North American river otter research project on the Upper Colorado River Basin in and adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado", "Asian Carp in the Diet of River Otters in Illinois", "Lontra canadensis (northern river otter)", COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Grizzly Bear, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_American_river_otter&oldid=1139111877, Fauna of the Sierra Nevada (United States), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 12:17. Keep water out during long dives we received responses from all 48 contiguous and. 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