Classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassMammalia
- OrderCarnivora
- FamilyMustelidae
- GenusLontra
- SpeciesL. canadensis
- Lifespan8-10 years in the wild (up to 20 years in captivity)
- Size35-50 inches long, weight of males 15-20 pounds, females about one-third less
- Offspring2 to 3 kits
- StatusCommon in parts of southern Canada and populations increasing in the eastern United States
Our River Otters
Name(s)
Louisiana
Origin
Found covered in oil at just two weeks old, he and his mother were rescued after an oil spill in Louisiana.
Why He’s Here
Due to the significant level of care required during his rehabilitation, Louisiana was deemed too habituated to humans to be released back into the wild. He arrived at the Science Center about a year and a half old in August 2012.
How You Can Help
Keep aquatic environments healthy! Properly dispose of motor oil, pesticides, paint, and other harmful materials rather than pouring them on the ground or down a storm drain.
Name(s)
Pueblo
Origin
Born as part of a Species Survival Plan captive breeding program at a zoo in Pueblo, Colorado, which aims to ensure the survival of species through managed breeding.
Why She's Here
The zoo where Pueblo was born sought placement for her at a facility that had a closed-top exhibit. She was transferred to the Science Center at two years old in May 2022.
How You Can Help
Support species conservation programs and efforts to restore wildlife populations to their natural habitats.
River Otter Fun Facts
- Otters can swim at six to seven miles per hour both above and below water.
- Otter slides? Yes, otters will slide down muddy, grassy or snowy slopes and these slides may be up to 25 feet long, usually ending in water.
- Otters are very playful, wrestling and chasing each other and rolling in the water.
- An otter’s fur is waterproof because the oily underfur is so dense and is structured in an interlocking pattern, keeping water away from the otter’s skin.
- Clean water is essential to otters so seeing one indicates a healthy waterway.
River Otter FAQs
What do River Otters look like and what animals are their relatives?
River otters are dark brown, fading to tan on the underside and on the muzzle and throat. Their coats consist of two kinds of fur – a dense, short, oily underfur and long, shiny guardhairs. Streamlined for swimming, with cylindrical bodies and long, tapering, round tails, otters are never far from water. Eyes, plus a flattened dark nose and small rounded ears are towards the top of the skull. Webbed feet greatly enhance an otter’s swimming abilities. Otters are members of the family Mustelidae and thus are related to mink, fisher, weasels and martens.
What kind of habitat do River Otters prefer?
Masters of the waterways, otters are found in the moving water of rivers and streams as well as in marshes, ponds, lakes, and saltwater. The home range of an otter is typically 3-10 square miles, but may be as large as 60 square miles. A male otter has a larger territory that usually overlaps that of several females. Dens are used in raising the young and may be an old beaver lodge or bank den, a spot under the roots of fallen trees or in hollow logs close to water.
What do River Otters eat?
While fish make up the major portion of their diet, otters also prey on crayfish, frogs, small mammals, aquatic insects, turtles, water snakes and even eat some plant material like blueberries.
Do River Otters have some special adaptations?
Otters have special adaptations for living in water that give them to ability to dive to a depth of 60 feet and stay underwater of up to three or four minutes. As they dive below the surface, otters automatically slow their heart rate and concentrate blood flow to the brain and vital organs, thus conserving oxygen. Valves in their ears and nostrils close to exclude water and a clear nictitating membrane (third eyelid) covers and protects the eyes while allowing for good vision. Whiskers two to four inches long are sensitive to underwater vibrations from prey.