[56] Trappers in Alberta, Canada commonly assert North American river otters are major predators of North American beavers. 2003), excluding Alaska. We also thank the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for logistical assistance. They have also been known to eat aquatic plants and to prey on other small mammals, such as muskrats or rabbits. VIDEO. ), and squawfishes (Ptychocheilus spp. The female otters do not dig their own dens; instead, they rely on other animals, such as beavers, to provide suitable environments to raise their offspring. and redhorses (Moxostoma spp. ), chubs (Semotilus spp. [10] The North American river otter was first classified in the genus Lutra. [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. (Figure 1). The most common fish consumed are perch, suckers, and catfish. William H. Burt and Richard P. Grossehnheider. Females are approximately one-third smaller than males. (1996) encouraged jurisdictions to standardize monitoring methodology. Found throughout the United States and Canada. [33] Specific species of reptiles and amphibians prey include: boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata); Canadian toads (Bufo hemiophrys); wood frogs (Rana sylvatica);[34] bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana); green frogs (Rana clamitans);[36] northwestern salamanders (Ambystoma gracile); California giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus); rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa);[33] and garter snakes (Thamnophis). 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. [46] In late 2012, a river otter nicknamed Sutro Sam took up residence around the former site of the Sutro Baths in San Francisco, the first river otter sighting in that city in more than half a century. Predators: Include the bobcat, coyote and birds of . Other restoration efforts were conducted to bolster existing river otter populations and to expand otter distributions and provide connectivity within states that had existing, but not ubiquitous, river otter populations (Table 1). 1996. The majority of these projects were implemented in the mid-1980s and were completed by the late 1990s; only two states (New York and Pennsylvania) were actively engaged in reintroductions during 1998 (Raesly 2001). Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 11(1):279286; e1944-687X. [33], Although they consume birds, North American river otters do not feed on bird eggs. A groundbreaking bipartisan bill aims to address the looming wildlife crisis before it's too late, while creating sorely needed jobs. Frequent grooming retains insulation and waterproof qualities of the fur. (c) Susan Adams, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). [1] They are now absent or rare in Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. It enters the English Channel at the western end of Lyme Bay, part of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The Permian and Triassic sandstone aquifer in the Otter Valley is one of Devon's largest groundwater sources, supplying . If you are one of the Length: 35-50 inches. 1980. We estimated that river otter distribution increased by 10.2% in the continental United States and by 13.7% in the contiguous United States during an 18-y period. 271 pp. It establishes a burrow close to the water's edge in river, lake, swamp, coastal shoreline, tidal flat, or estuary ecosystems. North American river otters only settle in areas that consist of vegetation, rock piles, and sufficient coverage. [54][57], Cases where otters have been ambushed and consumed by grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) have also been reportedly witnessed near the Arctic region. Otter.ai uses AI to write automatic meeting notes with real-time transcription, recorded audio, automated slide capture, and automated meeting summaries. 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. FEEDING HABITS: [23], Aquatic life ties North American river otters almost exclusively to permanent watersheds. 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 HISTORY AND ECOLOGY: Similarly, it is possible that false-negatives occurred, particularly at lower population densities. Otter play mostly consists of wrestling with conspecifics. [32] The North American river otters have also been known to catch and consume moulting American wigeon (Mareca americana) and green-winged teal (Anas crecca). Their thick fur helps to protect their skin from the water and allows them to withstand cold weather. The North American river otter, a member of the subfamily Lutrinae in the weasel family (Mustelidae), is equally versatile in the water and on land. The cessation of wide-scale reintroduction activities may suggest that the majority of suitable habitats are currently occupied by established river otter populations. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA). It can tolerate a great range of temperature and elevations. River otters communicate with whistles, yelps, growls, and screams, as well as touch and body posture. Scientific studies have shown them to be sensitive to pollution. Found at DOI: https://doi.org/10.3996/102018-JFWM-093.S2 (38 KB XLSX). The most severe population declines occurred in interior regions where fewer aquatic habitats supported fewer otter populations. Given the large extent of the species' range, we were limited to county-level inference. We estimated that river otter range in the continental United States expanded by 10.2% during this period (Table 3). Fish are a favorite food, but they also eat amphibians, turtles, and crayfish. Are otters endangered in Alabama? ); and Ictaluridae, which consists of bullheads and catfish (Ictalurus spp.). Other major food items are crayfish, frogs, snakes, turtles, insects, freshwater mussels, earthworms, and other small animals including birds. Their aquatic habitats can be both marine and fresh water: streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes. Reintroduction projects have expanded their distribution in recent years, especially in the Midwestern United States. Typically near bodies of water including streams, rivers, lakes and fresh and salt water marshes. Note: Above species may only be taken by TRAPPING ONLY. [34] Fish remnants were found in 91.9% of the samples. [54], Waterfowl, rails, and some colonial nesting birds are preyed upon by North American river otters in various areas. Behind-the-Scenes Encounters & Experiences, Passion into Conservation Action (PiCA) Program, Participation in the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Peterson Field Guide, Mammals. (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. ); Cyprinidae, made up of carp (Cyprinus spp. Lontra canadensis. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. The North American River Otter weighs on average 10 to 30 pounds and measures approximately two to four feet long from head to tail. The dens have entrances underwater so they can be easily accessed from the water. The river otter is considerably larger, reaching several feet in length. 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. The River Otters are smaller and weigh between 10-30 pound. River otters are also valued as a game species and furbearer (Melquist et al. In the Zoo, they eat meat, eggs, carrots, variety of fish (trout, catfish, herring, capelin, smelt). [34] A 1994 river otter study reported findings of beaver remains in 27 of 1,191 scats analyzed. 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.' [32] Fish are the primary component of the North American river otter's diet throughout the year. 2006. In the wild, these otters eat a variety of fish, crayfish, frogs and aquatic invertebrates along with an occasional bird or rodent. The remaining states indicated that they reintroduced river otters to expand populations in their state beyond their current range, including three states that indicated that reintroductions were also used to reestablish extirpated populations and seven states that used reintroductions to bolster populations where they already existed (Table 1). We thank the many state natural resource agencies for their responses and cooperation. [49] However, large populations never occurred in areas of Southern California such as the chaparral and oak woodlands and Mojave Desert seasonal waterway regions, or in the xeric shrubland regions in New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, and Colorado. Questions concerning river otter reintroductions assessed the purpose(s) (e.g., reestablish extirpated populations, bolster existing populations, or expand river otter range beyond current distributions) and outcomes (e.g., expanding, stagnant or geographically restrained, decreasing, or unknown) of reintroduction efforts. Based on this 2016 survey, 22 states reported increasing populations, 25 states reported stable populations, and 2 states (Arizona and Washington) reported an uncertain population trend (Table 1). About 13 different species exist around the world, but only two types - the River Otters and the Sea Otters live in the USA. Official Web Site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 2023 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 64 N. Union Street, Suite 468 - Montgomery, Alabama 36130, Physically Disabled Hunting and Fishing Trail, https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=467475161060988&ev=PageView&noscript=1. [50] The few occurrences of mammals found in the North American river otter's diet include: muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus); meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus); eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus); and snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus). Harvest regulations are reviewed frequently by most states that allow harvest (Table 1). [30][32] They are less likely to be prey for the North American river otters since they are fast-swimming and can find good escape cover. 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. 1999. Although state wildlife-management agencies use a variety of techniques to monitor changes in river otter population size and distribution, regulated harvest-management programs provide the foundation for the much of the population monitoring that occurs. The North American River Otter has a long, sleek body with a long, tapered tail covered in short, dense dark brown fur. 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). By the early 1900s, North American river otter populations had declined throughout large portions of their historic range in North America. [33] Every study done on the food habits of the North American river otter has identified varying fish species as being the primary component of its diet. River Otter Quick Facts. [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. They have small, round heads with small eyes and ears and prominent whiskers. Citation: Roberts NM, Lovallo MJ, Crimmins SM. 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. Are a favorite food, but they also eat amphibians, turtles, and crayfish birds of ). 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