River otter Lontra canadensis population and regulatory status, population monitoring methods used, intent and outcome of reintroduction efforts, and frequency of harvest regulation reviews in 49 states (Hawaii excluded) within the United States in 2016. Otters are at the status of least concern on the IUCN Red List. Responses for population trends included increasing, stable, or decreasing (although we did not specify the timeframe). CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, different non-sexual physical characteristics, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T12302A164577078.en, "Expert says otter attacks are rare after St. Pete dog killed", "Dog attacked by otters in Lakewood, homeowners say", "7 Surprising Facts About the Giant River Otter", "Multigene phylogeny of the Mustelidae: Resolving relationships, tempo and biogeographic history of a mammalian adaptive radiation", 10.1644/1545-1410(2002)712<0001:LM>2.0.CO;2, "Parasites as probes for prehistoric human migrations? Smithsonian Institution Press. We found that river otters have expanded their range significantly in the contiguous United States since the last assessment in 1998 (Melquist et al. Estimated range of river otters Lontra canadensis in the United States during 2016 compared with 1998 (estimated from Melquist et al. We tallied responses to these questions and reported frequency of responses. Habitat: Riparianliving or located near a body of water. 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). 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.). ), shiners (Notropis and Richardsonius spp. Birmingham, AL 35223. [47] In Canada, North American river otters occupy all provinces and territories, except until recently Prince Edward Island. River otter Lontra canadensis populations in the United States have expanded during the past 50 y as a result of improvements in habitat quality and effective management programs implemented by state and federal agencies and native tribes. Their aquatic habitats can be both marine and fresh water: streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes. (c) Susan Adams, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). River otters line their dens with leaves, moss, and grass. Their tails are muscular, dorsally flattened and tapered. Sometimes they eat aquatic plants. Nevertheless, these results provide an empirical, albeit coarse, contemporary estimate of river otter range in the United States. 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. [26], Male North American river otters disperse from such family groups more often than females. Their thick fur helps to protect their skin from the water and allows them to withstand cold weather. Otters have sharp claws and webbing between toes on all four feet. [9] 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. 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. Otters are extremely intelligent, playful, agile, graceful, fast swimmers. 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). In the Zoo, they eat meat, eggs, carrots, variety of fish (trout, catfish, herring, capelin, smelt). A river otter chews on a chunk of raw fish during feeding time at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa in 2021.. They can drink while under water due to a special valve in their nose. 2003) using ArcMap (ESRI 2011). However habitat destruction and water pollution still puts these animals at great risk, especially because they are so specialized. Mating season depends on the latitude in which the otter was born. Based on maps published by Melquist et al. [34] However, many other studies did not report any findings of North American beaver remains in the scat sampled. River otter track Scientific Name. FEEDING HABITS: These hydrodynamic members of the weasel family are voracious predators. (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. Within the contiguous United States, we estimated that the county-level geographic distribution occupied by river otters to be approximately 5,686,140 km270% of the total land area and 90% of the total water area. 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. The North American River Otter weighs on average 10 to 30 pounds and measures approximately two to four feet long from head to tail. Females are roughly one-third the size of males. [4] Occasional reports also show the river otter eating other small animals, such as mice, squirrels, birds, and even dogs that they've attacked and drowned. [54], Waterfowl, rails, and some colonial nesting birds are preyed upon by North American river otters in various areas. 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. ), daces (Rhinichthys spp. River Otters are good swimmers and divers, able to stay underwater for up to eight minutes. The Birmingham Zoo is an independent, not for profit, 501 (c) (3) organization. in hatcheries or other fish culture facilities). In addition, riverine habitats in interior regions supported smaller, but practical, otter populations. They prey most often on slower fish, such as catfish, carp and sculpins. River otter dens are along the water in abandoned burrows or empty hollows. Only one state, Utah, had conducted river otter reintroductions since 2010. A groundbreaking bipartisan bill aims to address the looming wildlife crisis before it's too late, while creating sorely needed jobs. [29][30], The diet of the North American river otter can be deduced by analyzing either stool obtained in the field,[31] or gut contents removed from trapped otters. Birds and birds' eggs, as well as small terrestrial mammals may also be eaten. [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. When the mothers have established their domains, they give birth to several kits. CREATIVE. North American river otters also currently inhabit coastal regions throughout the United States and Canada. Melquist et al. 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.' In the past, their soft and attractive fur could be sold for a decent amount of money. [34] Most aquatic invertebrates preyed upon by the otters are from the families Odonata (dragonfly nymphs), Plecoptera (stonefly nymphs), and Coleoptera (adult beetles). [12], Molecular biological techniques have been used to determine when the river otter and the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) of South America diverged. And it is a better swimmer than a mink. [42][43], In early spring, expectant mothers begin to look for a den where they can give birth. (c) Diddlecome Dawcock, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). 1980. Reintroduction projects have been particularly valuable in restoring populations in many areas of the United States. [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. Most researchers specifically focusing on otters rarely actually see any wild otters. October 29 - February 28. 2003). [51], Adult North American river otters are capable of consuming 1 to 1.5 kilograms (2.2 to 3.3lb) of fish per day. Although is unlikely that river otters inhabit the entire county, we believe this to be a sufficient and consistent with other species assessments. [10] The North American river otter was first classified in the genus Lutra. Other species of otters live on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Therefore, fish are more vulnerable to being preyed upon by otters because the crayfish have become more difficult to obtain. Catch-per-unit effort, population models, and presence vs. absence indices, such as bowhunter surveys and track surveys, were used less frequently (Table 1). Diet: Primarily consumes fish, mollusks and other invertebrates. [41], Delayed implantation distinguishes the species from the European otter, which does not do this. River otters generally live alone or in small social groups. Fish and Wildlife Service. While current harvest strategies do not pose a threat to maintaining otter populations, harvest may limit expansion of otter populations in some areas. In the wild, their lifespan is approximately 8 to 9 years; in captivity it increases to about 15 to 20 years. [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. We estimated that river otter range in the continental United States expanded by 10.2% during this period (Table 3). Deems and Pursley (1978), estimated that river otters occupied 71% of their historical range during 1977; by 1998, river otter populations had expanded and were thought to occupy 90% of their prior range (Melquist et al. [58][59][37][60], Threats to North American river otter populations in North America vary regionally. Although populations may continue to increase numerically, river otters may be approaching their potential geographic distribution in the United States. River otters are omnivorous, eating mostly aquatic organisms, including fish, frogs, crayfish, turtles, insects and some small mammals. Washington, D.C. 750 pp. Field Guide to Mammals, North America. [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. County-level distribution of river otter Lontra canadensis in the United States estimated by state wildlife agencies in in 2016 (Alaska does not have county-level data and there is no occurrence in Hawaii). 2006. The playful North American river otter is well adapted for semi-aquatic living. A member of the weasel family, otters are semiaquatic animals that feed on insects, fish, amphibians, small reptiles, and shellfish. North American river otters are not scavengers; they avoid consuming carrion (dead animals). 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. Young pups are born helpless, and remain in the . Now they are gone from the central and eastern United States, and extinct or rare in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. The North American River Otter has a long, sleek body with a long, tapered tail covered in short, dense dark brown fur. Or located near a body of water, rails, and remain in the continental United States during 2016 with. 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