Males weigh 22-45 kg and are 1.2-1.5 m in length. 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. Once they implant, fetal growth lasts 60 to 65 days until the kits are born, usually in spring (March through May) in most areas. Following breeding and fertilization in spring, eggs (blastocysts) exist in a free-floating state until the following winter or early spring. North American River Otter (Lontra … (1.29m) for males and 3 ft. 8 in. Their aquatic habitats can be both marine and fresh water: streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes. The tail is highly muscular and comprises up to 40 percent of the otter's total body length. Even when our gates are closed, we are still here, working as always to save species. Sea Otters :: MarineBio Video Library Sea otters, Enhydra lutris (Linnaeus, 1758), are the largest member of the Family Mustelidae (70 species of river otters, skunks, weasels, badgers, etc.) Otters are playful creatures, frequently seen sliding down riverbanks or burrowing through snow. Otters reach sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years of age. 1999) and released 346 river otter from 1994 to 1996 in central Illinois (Fig. When Andrew Rutter took a full-time wildlife ecologist position at the Lake County Forest Preserves in 2017, he expected his work studying river otter ecology would come to an end. Their short but thick, soft fur is brown to almost black except on the chin, throat, cheeks, chest, and occasionally the belly, where it is usually lighter, varying from brown to almost beige. River otters usually mate in the months of March and April. The male otter is generally chased away until the young are weaned and old enough to leave the riverbank, at which time they may return and help raise the pups. River otters stay in family groups during the summer and early fall. Female otters prepare dens that they keep scrupulously clean. MRC 5516 Female adults measure about 44 inches (112 cm) and weigh 19 pounds (8.6 kg). River otters are adaptable animals inhabiting a variety of aquatic habitats including ponds, rivers, and saltmarshes. 216pp. 2 3 Boyle, S. (2006, September 2). Increases in the range and numbers of river otters in response to the return of beaver has been dramatic, particularly in the southeastern United States. Their dense, short under-fur is overlain by darker, coarse guard hairs that help repel water. Density & Home Range Size. The reproductive biology of river otters, as in other Mustelids, is unusual in that they exhibit delayed implantation. Like other carnivores, their teeth are well adapted for grinding and crushing. river otter biology, habitat, history, resource value, and population management and provide direction for future management. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. Amphibious, muscular river otters swim gracefully and quickly underwater to catch prey, and they can run on land. Gestation lasts about 60 days, and the young, called kits, are born almost 1 year after conception. Otter are carnivores, feeding on fish, crayfish, frogs, insects, small mammals, mollusks, and blue crabs. These otters are frequently observed playing and sliding together. River otter were listed as endangered by the state of Illinois in 1989, with relict populations occurring in northwestern Illinois and extreme southern Illinois (Anderson 1995).The state recovery team, formed in 1993, developed a reintroduction program (Bluett et al. As of 2016, ROEP has catalogued more than 1,730 sightings and added to that tally close to 5,000 camera-trap videos and photos and roughly 1,300 samples of otter scat. As recently as the mid-1980s, more than 30,000 pelts were harvested annually. We hope you will join us in this important work. Cite This For Me. The fertilized eggs float around in the uterus for about 9 months before implantation occurs, rather than implanting on the uterine wall shortly after fertilization. A North American river otter's home range can be as large as 30 square miles (78 square kilometers), but a typical territory is 3 to 15 square miles (4.8 to 24 square kilometers). River otters use a variety of denning sites that seem to be selected based on availability and convenience. Males weigh 22-45 kg and are 1.2-1.5 m in length. Water Consumption Animal Average Amount (Liters per day) Canada Goose0.24 Cat0.15 Mink0.10 Opossum0.30 Bald Eagle0.16 A river otter drinks liters in three days. The otters typically capture prey in their mouths but occasionally use their thumbs and forepaws to grasp and manipulate prey. The tail comprises less than a third of the body length. When threatened or frightened, they emit a hair-raising scream that can be heard up to 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) across the water. River Otter Habitats - Biology bibliographies - in Harvard style . Otters prefer shores of deep, clear water in lakes, rivers, marshes and ocean bays. Regionally extinct throughout the Midwest and heavily populated areas in the east, several states have recently begun reintroduction programs. They inhabit lakes, rivers, streams, bays, estuaries, and associated riparian habitats. Different studies have placed the breeding season in winter, late spring and summer. 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. As our little bundle of joy explores his habitat, help us celebrate his milestones with a gift today! Common name. The reproductive biology of river otters and all other weasels is complex because of a characteristic known as delayed implantation. The otter's ears and nostrils close underwater. The otters typically capture prey in their mouths but occasionally use their thumbs and forepaws to grasp and manipulate prey. Society for Conservation Biology North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis): A Technical Conservation Assessment Prepared for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Species Conservation Project September 2, 2006 Steve Boyle BIO-Logic Environmental 635 East Main Ste. RIVER OTTER NETWORK: We are interested in describing the distribution and demography of otters on the coasts, wetlands and watersheds in Humboldt, Del Norte and adjacent counties. After the Clean Water Act of 1972, they 1999). They don’t like human encroachment, and are uncommon nowadays. North American river otters are likely the most numerous of the otter species. While young otters swim naturally, the mother must coax them into the water for their first swim. An otter is muscular, streamlined and solidly built. Females are slightly smaller, weighing 14-33 kg and measuring 1-1.4m in length. The normal anatomy section of the Inner Otter features expert descriptions and high quality images of normal sea otter anatomy. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft).Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The River Otter Ecology Project is a registered 501 (c)(3) EIN #45-4997526 non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of river otters and our watershed. That home range shrinks drastically during breeding and rearing season. River otters are top predators in North American wetland systems. It is both the world’s largest otter and largest member of the mustelid family, reaching up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length. Science of The Total Environment, 408(3), pp.537-542 . Otter populations are confined to water courses, lakes, and wetlands, and therefore, population densities are lower than those of terrestrial species. and are the smallest marine mammal in North America. River otter poop also contains lots of DNA, from what the otters have eaten and from the otters themselves. That is why they are an excellent species to investigate pathogens and diseases.” The teen’s mother, biology teacher Casina Ewert, ... One of the two domestic dogs that encountered the river otter was a puppy that had to be euthanized after the incident. The Japanese river otter ... Ecology and biology Habits. Sea otters feed on benthic invertebrates and typically dive to the bottom to forage, although they may also pull prey off emergent rocks, kelp stipes or kelp canopy. Females are slightly smaller, weighing 14-33 kg and measuring 1-1.4 m in length. This work is supported by New Technologies for Agriculture Extension grant no. 2015-41595-24254 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Because they are at the top of their food chain, they have few predators. They remain as a family unit for seven to eight months or until the birth of a new litter. Estrus can last anywhere from 20-56 days. 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. otter biology and history ^ Otters were once plentiful across most of North America but due to trapping pressure in the late 1800’s and early 20th century, these numbers dwindled. Mammals and birds are rarely eaten. Claiming a territory about ten miles in diameter, it marked the area with its droppings about one to three miles apart and sets up three or four nests under rocks or inside bushes. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. Other research maintains that river otters mate for life. The ♀ gave birth to nine litters, with 14.6.1 pups born, 6.4 (48%) of which survived to > 1 year old. Biology of the North American river otter Adult river otters weigh between 15 and 30 pounds and measure 84.34 cm (2.8 feet) to 137.16 cm (4.5 feet).1,2 Otters have adapted to their aquatic environment by de-veloping dense fur, large lungs, and webbed hind feet. Journal. Future genetic analysis of scat collected on all of the nearshore islands and the upper Cape will provide valuable information on connectivity between these populations. They have long, streamlined bodies, short legs, and a robust, tapered tail, all of which are well adapted to their mostly aquatic habitat. Their extirpation from many areas is believed to have been related more to poisoning by pesticides bio-magnified in fishes, and to the indirect adverse effects of water pollution on fish, their main food, than to excessive harvest. The Giant otter, living in South America, and the largest of the otters in its total length, is the cousin of the sea and river otters in North America, Europe and Africa. “Everything runs to the rivers,” said Chris DePerno, co-author of the study and a professor in NC State’s Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Program. River otters have long, stiff and highly sensitive facial whiskers that aid in locating and capturing prey. North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. On the website of her small nonprofit River Otter Ecology Project, the reports of sightings pour in, from anglers and dog-walkers and nature lovers and amazed suburbanites: Hey, I just saw an otter! Our organization is not affiliated with any other otter-related research group or community outreach organization. males: 10 to 15 years; females: 15 to 20 years: Vocal behavior. About River Otter Ecology Project. They are found at the top of the food chain, and there is some evidence that their birth rates are reduced when pollution levels—including toxic chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides and agricultural wastes—build up. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, they eat a prepared meat diet and several types of fish. The Otter Project > about sea otters > biology of the southern sea otter biology of the southern sea otter . They devour fish and other prey, keeping ecosystems balanced. Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008, PO Box 37012 A third eyelid, or nictitating membrane, protects the eye and allows the otter to see when swimming underwater. The reproductive biology of river otters and all other weasels is complex because of a characteristic known as delayed implantation. The otters are thriving—the water is relatively clean, the populations of fish are good. Tools, commonly rocks, may be used by some individuals to break into hard-shelled prey, especially marine snails. Distribution. Otters are found from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island and north to Yukon Territory. The otter’s fur is thick but fine, lustrous deep brown to almost black in color, with the exception of the chin and throat which are lighter. Sea otter: Scientic name. Like other carnivores, their teeth are well adapted for grinding and crushing. The oldest living river otter on record was 27 years old. River otters exhibit a variety of vocalizations, ranging from whistles and buzzes to twitters, staccato chuckles, chirps and growls. Adults were river otters ≥ 2 years old and subadults were river otters < 2 years old. The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. Society for Conservation Biology North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis): A Technical Conservation Assessment Prepared for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Species Conservation Project September 2, 2006 Steve Boyle BIO-Logic Environmental 635 East Main Ste. Socially, the basic group is the female and her offspring. There is evidence that river otters' play activities strengthen social bonds, improve hunting techniques and scent mark territories. Provided it survives its first year of life, a typical North American river otter will live to the age of 12, with some surviving longer. River otters are also valued as a game species and furbearer (Melquist et al. What is clear is that there is a delayed implantation of nine to 11 months, with actual gestation taking about 60 days. They are powerful swimmers and are continuously active, alert, and quick—characteristics that give them immense aesthetic and recreational value. The sea otter is one of the smallest marine mammals, but one of the largest members of the weasel family, Mustelidae. An otter's tail is long and tapered, thickest where it joins the body and furred its entire length. The Basics. Using fertilizers sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and picking up after your pet can also improve watershed health. Prior to our Otter Spotter community science effort beginning in 2012, river otters were not known to inhabit the SF Bay Area. Educational Activities You Can Do at Home, About the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Your Go-to Guide for a Winter Day at the Zoo, Pouncing On Enrichment: Stories from Real-Life Zoo Gaurdians. The reproductive biology of river otters, as in other Mustelids, is unusual in that they exhibit delayed implantation. It makes its home in a burrow near the water's edge, and can thrive in river, lake, swamp, or estuary ecosystems. river otter biology, habitat, history, resource value, and population management and provide direction for future management. The den is usually dug into the bank of a stream but can be an old beaver's lodge, muskrat house or hollow tree. The Giant River Otter only lives in three river systems: the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata. However, the studies done in Kochi University revealed something different. The Giant River Otter(Pteronura brasiliensis), often referred to as the river wolf, is a species in the Mustelid (weasel) family that is endemic to South America. They are perfectly happy to hunt in the ocean,” says Isadore. maximum weight of 45 kg. The diet of the river otter throughout its range is primarily fish. River otters have long, stiff and highly sensitive facial whiskers that aid in locating and capturing prey. With the tail's strong, undulating movement, a river otter propels itself through the water as fast as 8 miles (13 kilometers) per hour and can easily dive to 36 feet (11 meters) or more. Females have 4 mammae on the upper chest and are slightly smaller than males. Their long, agile bodies enable them to quickly twist , turn, roll and dive, and they are frequently seen sliding or burrowing in the mud or snow. Research based wildlife control information, River Otters | River Otter Overview | River Otter Damage Assessment | River Otter Damage Management | River Otter Resources | River Otter Acknowledgments | ICWDM | Wildlife Species Information, if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); }. The Giant River Otter only lives in three river systems: the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata. In response to this drop in population, regulations were put in place to reduce the amount being lost to … The North American river otter is the most abundant otter species, but surprisingly little is known about its life in the wild. By comparing the Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene of a mummified Japanese river otter corpse with Eurasian otters from Latvia and China, it was proven that t… FAST FACTS. It represents our guide to managing otter populations in Pennsylvania for the next 10 years. The River Otter Ecology Project, a nonprofit organization studying river otter populations in Marin County, provided the otter videos from California. How much water can a river otter drink in three days? Scent marking is done by either urinating/defecating or by emitting a strong, musky odor from the paired scent glands near the base of the tail. Accumulation of mercury and selenium in the brain of river otters (Lontra canadensis) and wild mink (Mustela vison) from Nova Scotia, Canada. The Gut Microbial Community Structure of the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) in the Alberta Oil Sands Region in Canada: ... Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 180, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5 Canada. Understanding river otter range, or the area that river otters inhabit, is an important tool to help us with land use planning, restoration decisions, and toxic spill planning and response. Unlike sea otters, river otters are capable of covering great distances on land. River otters use their powerful hind feet to help with propulsion and their small, dexterous front feet for paddling through the water. In South Carolina, they are common along waterways of the coastal plain. Natal dens tend to be located on small headwater branches or streams leading to major drainages or lakes. In colder climates, otters frequent rapids and waterfall areas that remain ice-free. North American river otters get their boundless energy from their very high metabolism, which also requires that they eat a great deal during the day. By becoming a member, you'll help the Zoo save species and get great benefits for you and your family each time you visit! Following breeding and fertilization in spring, eggs (blastocysts) exist in a free-floating state until the following winter or early spring. They prefer unpolluted water with a minimal human disturbance. Lutra canadensis. Following breeding and fertilization in spring, eggs (blastocysts) exist in a free-floating state until the following winter or early spring. Size: to 30″ (body) Habitat: in and around water Notes: River otters are shy but playful creatures that spend much of their time just splashing around. Sexual maturity in young is believed to occur at about 2 years of age in females, but later in males. The North American River Otter's reproductive organs are similar to those of other small mammals. River otter vocalizations and behaviors in New York were recorded using Bushnell Aggressor trail cameras that were placed in areas of moderate to high river otter activity. The tail is highly muscular and comprises up to 40 percent of the otter's total body length. River otters occur throughout North America except the arctic slopes, the arid portions of the Southwest, and the intensive agricultural and industrialized areas of the Midwestern United States (Fig. Otter fur is a rich, dark brown and is lighter on the … Are you a hunter? The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. Captured prey are brought to the surface for consumption, with the abdomen used as a table. River otters have been blamed for decimating game fish populations and are seen as a pest to eradicate by many game fishermen. River Otter Habitats - Biology bibliographies - in Harvard style . 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