[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. One report suggests maximum areas 28m (92ft) long and 15m (49ft) wide, well-marked by scent glands, urine, and feces to signal territory. The fact that it is exclusively active during the day further suggests its eyesight should be strong, to aid in hunting and predator avoidance. The river otter is adapted for both land and water with short legs, webbed toes, and a strong, flattened tail. [34][36][54], Records of North American otters preying upon North American beavers (Castor canadensis) vary; it has been reported in the southern boreal forest of Manitoba. The otters migrated to North America and southwards again across the Panamanian Land Bridge, which formed 3Mya. Death / Obituaries. 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). The North American River Otter, Lontra canadensis, is a semi-aquatic mammal found only in North America. After a few bumps, they can slide up to 22 feet on the ice. [87], Throughout its range, the giant otter interacts with indigenous groups, who often practice traditional hunting and fishing. jookco Cartoon great AL Jaffee has passed away at age 102. North American river otters also currently inhabit coastal regions throughout the United States and Canada. Organize or attend a stream, river, lake or other waterway cleanup in your area to preserve aquatic habitats for local species. River otters use their powerful hind feet to help with propulsion and their small, dexterous front feet for paddling through the water. [40] One fight was directly observed in the Brazilian Pantanal in which three animals violently engaged a single individual near a range boundary. [33] Otters have been found to consume invasive Asian carp. [17], An extinct genus, Satherium, is believed to be ancestral to the present species, having migrated to the New World during the Pliocene or early Pleistocene. These include providing at least the minimum recommended land-to-water area ratio, and that all enclosure land surfaces (both artificial and natural) are nearly entirely covered with the recommended substrate conditions (e.g. bobcats, alligators, coyotes, and raptors are among the large predators that prey on river otters. [91] A Maxacali creation story suggests that the practice of otter fishing may have been prevalent in the past.[92]. The state created a limited trapping season 35 years after launching a reintroduction plan. [59] If fish are unavailable, it will also take crabs, snakes, and even small caimans and anacondas. They give birth within these dens during the dry season. but averaging 15 to 19 lbs . The giant otter is large, gregarious, and diurnal. North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. [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. They will feed on fish, invertebrates, frogs, clams, crayfish, and small mammals or birds. The giant otter has a handful of other names. [5] They are weaned by nine months and begin hunting successfully soon after. River otters are adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle and can typically be seen "playing" in a stream, river, or alongside the banks of a waterway. HISTORY . [60] Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction currently, but may become so unless trade is closely controlled. [50] Males actively participate in rearing cubs and family cohesion is strong;[51] older, juvenile siblings also participate in rearing, although in the weeks immediately after birth, they may temporarily leave the group. If theyre there, its a good sign.. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, they eat a prepared meat diet and several types of fish. Fish from the order Perciformes, particularly cichlids and perch, were seen in 97% of scats, and Characiformes, such as characins, in 86%. New at the Zoo: Meet Our Bushbaby Brothers. [20], The mothers raise their young without aid from adult males. It has the greatest body length of any species in the mustelid family, although the sea otter may be heavier. A restoration program in western New York has in. Females are roughly one-third the size of males. Learn more. [23][16], North American river otters characteristically approach within a few feet of a boat or a person on shore because they're near-sighted, a consequence of vision adapted for underwater sight. 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. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. [39] In another instance in Brazil, a carcass was found with clear indications of violent assault by other otters, including bites to the snout and genitals, an attack pattern similar to that exhibited by captive animals. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. A number of reintroduction projects have been initiated to help halt the reduction in the overall population. [62] The spectacled caiman is another potential competitor, but Duplaix found no conflict with the species in Suriname. [45] In 2010, the Colorado Department of Wildlife reported the species, reintroduced in the 1980s, was "thriving" and recommended its protection status be reconsidered. Otter fur is dark brown, short, and dense (hundreds of hairs/square inch) creating a smooth, sleek body and tail. [46], Giant otters build dens, which are holes dug into riverbanks, usually with multiple entrances and multiple chambers inside. Solon doesn't even seem to mind that in the 2019-2020 season, 256 otters were harvested in 38 counties of Ohio, the highest modern-day harvest on record. [14] (Larger figures may reflect two or three family groups temporarily feeding together. [62], Other species that prey upon similar food resources include the caimans and large fish that are themselves piscivores. [25] The fur is extremely dense, so much so that water cannot penetrate to the skin. River otters leave scent marks on vegetation within their home range. Sliding is a thing. [37], The giant otter is a highly social animal and lives in extended family groups. We thought were next, Detroit River is next, he said. The river otter's eyes and ears are located high on its head for surface swimming. By the early 1900s, North American river otter populations had declined throughout large portions of their historic range in North America. Young are born between April andMay and arrivesilky black, blind, toothless and totally helpless. At this point, they eat solid food but are not completely weaned for another month or two. [5][6][7], The range of the North American river otter has been significantly reduced by habitat loss, beginning with the European colonization of the Americas. In a Facebook post on Friday evening, the zoo said a 13-year-old female North American river . Its distribution has been greatly reduced and is now discontinuous. [15] P. b. paraguensis is supposedly smaller and more gregarious, with different dentition and skull morphology. [60], The species can hunt singly, in pairs, and in groups, relying on sharp eyesight to locate prey. It is encouraging to note that with these conservation programs, regulations on trappingand the improvement of water quality, the river otters are finally making a comeback in certain wetland areas. It is one of the most endangered mammal species in the Neotropics. Statistics show between 1959 and 1969 Amazonian Brazil alone accounted for 1,000 to 3,000 pelts annually. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW [14], In 2021, conservationists at Fundacin Rewilding spotted a wild giant river otter swimming in the Bermejo River in Impenetrable National Park, located in the Chaco province of northeast Argentina. [16] Their main requirements are a steady food supply and easy access to a body of water. Today, accidental trappings in beaver traps constitute the most otter fatalities. Otter species can be found across Eurasia, Africa, India, Japan, Indonesia, North America, South America, and Central America. The giant otter averages 145 to 180 cm (57-71 in. ", "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. [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. [50] Likewise, the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a preferred fish species for the North American river otter in other regions of Colorado. Subadults leaving in search of new territory find it impossible to set up family groups. Quick hah barks or explosive snorts suggest immediate interest and possible danger. [10] The North American river otter was first classified in the genus Lutra. Otters are the largest member of the weasel family weighing up to 30 lbs. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. Prey species found were also sedentary, generally swimming only short distances, which may aid the giant otter in predation. [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. [73], The IUCN listed the giant otter as "endangered" in 1999; it had been considered "vulnerable" under all previous listings from 1982 when sufficient data had first become available. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much About this Specimen The specimen was scanned by Matthew Colbert on 5 January 2006 along the coronal axis for a total of 705 slices. Decades of poaching for its velvety pelt, peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, considerably diminished population numbers. He grabbed his camera and then got a video of the otters head bobbing out of the water. The Maine Fish and Game Commissioner at the time, George J. Stoble, said that the critter, which Bolstridge trapped on the Fish River, was a world's record otter. They have been virtually eliminated through many parts of their range, especially around heavily populated areas in the midwestern and eastern United States. The North American River Otter, for instance, is nocturnal three seasons and more diurnal only in the winter. Before the giant river otter, there was an otter that weighed more than four times the largest living otter species. But cleanup efforts in the past few decades have paved the way for the otters return to the river. But the otters return is a beacon of hope for conservationists and environmentalists alike. There was so much oil in the river that not only river otters but beavers could not live there. 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. Sea otters weigh more around 45-90 pounds with large, furry faces. On its face, the upper lip, mandible, and tip of the muzzle are silvery white to yellowish. The estrous cycle is 21 days, with females receptive to sexual advances between three and 10 days. In Mexico, the North American river otters lived in the Rio Grande and Colorado River Deltas. When the mothers have established their domains, they give birth to several kits. The den typically has many tunnel openings, one of which generally allows the otter to enter and exit the body of water. We are thrilled that they are back, he told CNN. The ears appear large on its small flattened head. [69] Pups are more vulnerable, and may be taken by caiman and other large predators,[52] although adults are constantly mindful of stray young, and will harass and fight off possible predators. [61] In some cases, supposed cooperative hunting may be incidental, a result of group members fishing individually in close proximity; truly coordinated hunting may only occur where the prey cannot be taken by a single giant otter, such as with small anacondas and juvenile black caiman. There is evidence that river otters' play activities strengthensocial bonds, improvehunting techniquesand scent markterritories. Published North American river otters are likelythe most numerous of the otter species. River otters are much smaller averaging 10-30 pounds with a cylindrical body and small head. River otters have long, stiff and highly sensitive facial whiskers that aid in locating and capturing prey. River otter populations have declined since the 1600s for numerous reasons, including the fur trade and loss of habitat. The European River Otter shares similar sleeping habits, spending most of the day sleeping in undergrowth or the holes which are their dens. The IUCN lists Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela as current range countries. Low 49F. As it dove, it didnt have the flattened tail like a beaver, which leaves otter as the only possibility, he explained. However, North American river otters remain rare or absent in the southwestern United States. They are found throughout most of North America - from the Rio Grande in Northern Mexico to Canada and Alaska. [38][40], When left unchecked, though, otters can be significant predators under certain circumstances (e.g. [52][53][54], In the wild, it has been suggested, although not systematically confirmed, that tourists cause similar stresses: disrupted lactation and denning, reduced hunting, and habitat abandonment are all risks. Howdyshell said he was able to take video of the river otter to prove he and Molly weren't hallucinating. [26] Other fish an integral part of the North American river otters' diets are those that are often plentiful and found in large schools: sunfish (Lepomis spp. Robin ( 1987) reported that in 1985, 50% of Eurasian otters were captive born and in 2015 approximately 77% were captive born (Rey . River otters eat mostly aquatic organisms, including fish, frogs, crayfish, turtles, insects and some small mammals. On land a river otter can run at speeds of up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) an hourthey can slide even faster. [48][49] Research over five years on a breeding pair at the Cali Zoo in Colombia found the average interval between litters was six to seven months, but as short as 77 days when the previous litter did not survive. Giant otters catch their own food and consume it immediately; they grasp the fish firmly between the forepaws and begin eating noisily at the head. Logging, hunting, and pup seizure may have led groups to be far more wary of human activity. These otters have brown-to-gray fur, and their undersides are a lighter, silvery shade. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. Their playful snow and mud sliding, tail chasing, water play, and snow burrowing activities also serve other purposesthey help strengthen social bonds and let young otters practice hunting techniques. What to Watch for Size: 3-4' long including the tail which is about one third of the total length. Two river dolphins, the tucuxi and boto, might potentially compete with the giant otter, but different spatial use and dietary preferences suggest minimal overlap. [81], The giant otter has lost as much as 80% of its South American range. It can tolerate a great range of temperature and elevations. [48], The giant otter is an apex predator, and its population status reflects the overall health of riverine ecosystems. [72] Its smaller prey, different denning habits, and different preferred water types also reduce interaction. The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. Similarly, many perceived threats to North American river otters, such as pollution and habitat alterations, have not been rigorously evaluated. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.8m (5ft 11in). [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. Ecotourism also presents challenges: while it raises money and awareness for the animals, by its nature it also increases human effect on the species, both through associated development and direct disturbances in the field. Recent research, however, indicates that otters prefer slower moving, easier to catch fish, such as suckers and catfish found along river bottoms, and pose no threat to game fish. [2] Four specific vegetation types occur on one important creek in Suriname: riverbank high forest, floodable mixed marsh and high swamp forest, floodable low marsh forest, and grass islands and floating meadows within open areas of the creek itself. The giant otter seems to choose clear, black waters with rocky or sandy bottoms over silty, saline, and white waters. Diet of the River Otter River otters eat virtually anything that you can find near lakes or streams. The neotropical otter is active during twilight and darkness, reducing the likelihood of conflict with the diurnal giant otter. 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. 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. A river otter is a small, aquatic mammal that can be found in rivers and lakes in North America. At the moment, it's not clear where this . They hunt singly or in pairsand although otters generally forage in water, they are equally at home on land, sometimes traveling between 10 and18 miles (16 and 29 kilometers) in search of food. It constructs extensive campsites close to feeding areas, clearing large amounts of vegetation. Enhydriodon Omoensis: The Largest Otter Ever The largest . North American river otters ( Lontra canadensis) can grow up to four feet from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail and weigh up to 30 pounds. Pups grow rapidly and emerge from the den at about 2 months of age. 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