Otters can travel several miles over land to reach another body of water to set up new territories. In the absence of harvest-dependent data, presenceabsence data (such as track surveys), can indicate population distribution and trajectories (Roberts et al. [1] They are now absent or rare in Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Predators: Include the bobcat, coyote and birds of . TheNorth Americanriver otter (Lutra canadensis) is a member of the weasel family. North American river otters also currently inhabit coastal regions throughout the United States and Canada. Its body length ranges from 66 to 107 centimetres (26 to 42in). They prey most often on slower fish, such as catfish, carp and sculpins. [26][34][36][50] Otters consume more aquatic insects in the summer as the populations increase and specific life stages heighten their susceptibility. We estimated that river otter range in the continental United States expanded by 10.2% during this period (Table 3). CREATIVE. William H. Burt and Richard P. Grossehnheider. They have small, round heads with small eyes and ears and prominent whiskers. They have long bodies, short limbs, and rich glossy coats. [50] Fish species frequently found in the diets of the North American river otters include: Catostomidae, which consists of suckers (Catostomus spp.) We thank the many state natural resource agencies for their responses and cooperation. 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. Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators will sometimes prey on North American river otters. We received responses from all 48 contiguous states and interviewed agency personnel in Alaska; not all responses were complete (Table S1). 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. kodiak river otter. Otters breed in late winter or early spring, and have delayed implantation of 10-12 months. [16] The dental formula is 3.1.4.13.1.3.2. North America's largest North American river otter populations were found in areas with an abundance and diversity of aquatic habitats, such as coastal marshes, the Great Lakes region, and glaciated areas of New England. However, urbanization and pollution instigated reductions in range area. River otters use their powerful hind feet to help with propulsion and their small, dexterous front feet for paddling through the water. in hatcheries or other fish culture facilities). As populations grow and expand, it is reasonable to assume that some jurisdictions may shift monitoring resources toward less secure species. 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). They have small heads that widen through the neck into a long, thickset but streamlined body. Are otters endangered in Alabama? [41], Delayed implantation distinguishes the species from the European otter, which does not do this. Otters are what we call an indicator species. This means that if there is evidence of otters living in a body of water then that body of water is likely very healthy and clean. Females will utilize a den in a mud bank or fallen tree trunk near the water for a nest location. The North American river otters may leave the den by eight weeks and are capable of sustaining themselves upon the arrival of fall, but they usually stay with their families, which sometimes include the father, until the following spring. [20] About one-third of the animal's total length consists of a long, tapered tail. Poorly known. In the Zoo, they eat meat, eggs, carrots, variety of fish (trout, catfish, herring, capelin, smelt). Crait, J.R. and M. Ben-David. https://doi.org/10.3996/102018-JFWM-093. [20] Female North American river otters give birth in these burrows, producing litters of one to six young. The impoundments from Aliceville Lake downstream to . Peterson Field Guide, Mammals. Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America. When the mothers have established their domains, they give birth to several kits. Wilson, D. E. and S. Ruff. In some regions, though, their population is controlled to allow the trapping and harvesting of otters for their fur. 2003). They are born blind and remain in the den to nurse for the first month. 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. [9] Other documented common names are American otter, Canada otter, Canadian otter, fish otter, land otter, nearctic river otter, and Prince of Wales otter. [30][38] North American river otters do not generally handle prey of a large size relative to themselves but there are occasions where they've been observed ambushing and killing adult common snapping turtles while the large turtles (which are roughly equal in average body weight to a North American river otter) are hibernating. [13] Fossils of a giant river otter dating back 3.5 Mya (during the Pliocene)[14] have been found in the US Midwest; however, fossils of the modern river otter did not appear in North America until about 1.9Mya. [30] However, river otters will prey on trout, pike, walleye (Sander vitreus vitreus), salmon (Oncorhynchus spp. This expansion was facilitated by restoration programs as well as natural dispersal and expansion of established populations. Otters have sharp claws and webbing between toes on all four feet. Field Guide to Mammals, North America. Preceding the settlement of North America by Europeans, North American river otters were prevalent among aquatic habitats throughout most of the continent. We tallied responses to these questions and reported frequency of responses. 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. Most mustelids, including otters, have 36 specialized teeth, including sharp canines and carnassials that inflict lethal bites to prey. [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. Nevertheless, these results provide an empirical, albeit coarse, contemporary estimate of river otter range in the United States. 2018). [26], Male North American river otters disperse from such family groups more often than females. These hydrodynamic members of the weasel family are voracious predators. The Lower Alabama River begins at the Claiborne Lock and Dam and runs south 72.5 miles through Monroe, Clarke, and Baldwin counties where it joins the Tombigbee River. You can copy this taxon into another guide. 2003). 2003) using ArcMap (ESRI 2011). Most researchers specifically focusing on otters rarely actually see any wild otters. [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. [61] Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction currently, but may become so unless trade is closely controlled. River otters are omnivorous, eating mostly aquatic organisms, including fish, frogs, crayfish, turtles, insects and some small mammals. HABITAT: [1], Lontra canadensis is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). [16], North American river otters consume an extensive assortment of fish species ranging in size from 2 to 50 centimeters (0.79 to 19.69in) that impart sufficient caloric intake for a minute amount of energy expenditure. and redhorses (Moxostoma spp. giant river otter. 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). [2008], and Roberts [2010]). [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. [2], North American river otters, like most predators, prey upon the most readily accessible species. They also scent mark using scent glands near the base of their tails that produce a strong, musky odor. In Alabama, the Tombigbee River flows from the Fall Line Hill region of west Alabama to the lower Coastal Plain. The river otter is considerably larger, reaching several feet in length. River otters are also valued as a game species and furbearer ( Melquist et al. [10], The North American river otter has long whiskers that are used to detect prey in dark waters. The ears appear large on its small flattened head. Females allow the male to return after approximately 10 to12 weeks to assist with rearing and teaching the pups essential survival skills. [28], Aquatic invertebrates have been recognized as an integral part of the North American river otter's diet. Reproduction: Once yearly with an average litter of 2-3 and up to 6. [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). 132 River Otters Playing Premium High Res Photos Browse 132 river otters playing stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. You will often see an otter swimming for a distance up a river, popping its head out to look in your direction. Typically near bodies of water including streams, rivers, lakes and fresh and salt water marshes. 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. [21] It differs from the European otter by its longer neck, narrower visage, the smaller space between the ears and its shorter tail. River Otter Quick Facts. 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. The river otter is adapted for both land and water with short legs, webbed toes, and a strong, flattened tail. The most common fish consumed are perch, suckers, and catfish. 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. River otter fur ranges from light to dark, rich brown. Although populations may continue to increase numerically, river otters may be approaching their potential maximum geographic distribution in the United States. 2006. By the early 1900s river otters had been completely extirpated from 11 states and had experienced severe population declines in 9 other states (Deems and Pursley 1978). Furthermore, because river otters serve as a biomonitor for banned organochlorine pesticides in Illinois, a tool such as SVR used to inform researchers about optimal months for scat collection may facilitate the use of scat for chemical analysis and potential identification of individual otters via genetic profiles from scats (Carpenter et al . Do not throw any kind of trash, fertilizers, or poisons into any body of water. Example questionnaire distributed to state wildlife agencies in 2006. The tail makes up approximately 40 percent of the otters total length, which ranges from three to four-and-one-half feet. The North American River Otter weighs on average 10 to 30 pounds and measures approximately two to four feet long from head to tail. We found that river otters have expanded their range significantly in the contiguous United States since the last assessment in 1998 (Melquist et al. A Wisconsin zoo recently welcomed some adorable new additions to its family: three baby North American river otters. River otters historically inhabited every major watershed in the contiguous United States and were extirpated from much of their historical range as a result of multiple factors including habitat degradation and destruction as well as unregulated harvest (Anderson 1977). [34] Most aquatic invertebrates preyed upon by the otters are from the families Odonata (dragonfly nymphs), Plecoptera (stonefly nymphs), and Coleoptera (adult beetles). 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. Giant otters live in South America, throughout the Orinoco, Amazon and La Plata River systems (mostly in the northern half of South America). River otters breed in late winter or early spring. The North American river otters are carnivores, they eat mainly aquatic animals such as amphibians, turtles, fish, crayfish, crabs, and other species of invertebrates. The otters eyes contain a specialized lens to assist with underwater viewing. FEEDING HABITS: Birmingham, AL 35223. Sometimes they eat aquatic plants. editors of this guide it should copy everything, but if you're not, it Please note: The Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supplemental material. Habitat: Riparianliving or located near a body of water. 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