The river otter's eyes and ears are located high on its head for surface swimming. Other research maintains that river otters mate for life. The otters typically capture prey in their mouths but occasionally use their thumbs and forepaws to grasp and manipulate prey. Common name. Information about river otter breeding and reproductive and social behavior is varied due to the difficulty of studying these animals in the wild. Their dense, short under-fur is overlain by darker, coarse guard hairs that help repel water. Science of The Total Environment, 408(3), pp.537-542 . They have prominent whiskers just behind and below the nose, thick muscular necks and shoulders, and feet that are webbed between the toes. Their sex can be readily distinguished by the presence of a baculum (penile bone). 1999) and released 346 river otter from 1994 to 1996 in central Illinois (Fig. River otters on our study area exhibited clear evidence of space sharing, suggesting that individuals in this population were neither solitary nor territorial. Their vocalizations include chirps, grunts, and loud piercing screams. 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. The tail comprises less than a third of the body length. Socially, the basic group is the female and her offspring. With the tail's strong, undulating movement, a river otter propels itself through the water as fast as 8 miles (13 kilometers) pe… Food. River Otter Habitats - Biology bibliographies - in Harvard style . North American river otters are known for their playful swimming, but they are also an important species for helping scientists understand the health of river systems. Sea otters, Enhydra lutris (Linnaeus, 1758), are the largest member of the Family Mustelidae (70 species of river otters, skunks, weasels, badgers, etc.) They inhabit lakes, rivers, streams, bays, estuaries, and associated riparian habitats. The reproductive biology of river otters and all other weasels is complex because of a characteristic known as delayed implantation. Sexual maturity in young is believed to occur at about 2 years of age in females, but later in males. 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. Otters (both sea and river otters) play a notable role in the animal food chain. Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008, PO Box 37012 Because they have a low tolerance for polluted water, river otters are considered by some naturalists to be a good indicator, or "keystone," species of the quality of aquatic habitats. They live in riparian zones, often in the same areas as beavers. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. An otter is muscular, streamlined and solidly built. They habitually use specific sites (toilets) for defecation. Once they implant, fetal growth lasts 60 to 65 days until the kits are born, usually in spring (March through May) in most areas. 100 Montrose, CO 81401 . A third eyelid, or nictitating membrane, protects the eye and allows the otter to see when swimming underwater. 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. Breeding Biology Hollow logs, rock crevices, nutria houses, and abandoned beaver lodges and bank dens are used. SEA OTTER BIOLOGY. Female otters prepare dens that they keep scrupulously clean. Change style powered by CSL. The tail is highly muscular and comprises up to 40 percent of the otter's total body length. 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. Like other carnivores, their teeth are well adapted for grinding and crushing. Usual mating rituals commence with rough play such as running, swimming, diving, and chasing. Webbing is greatly reduced on the front feet. The reproductive biology of river otters, as in other Mustelids, is unusual in that they exhibit delayed implantation. Our organization is not affiliated with any other otter-related research group or community outreach organization. Because of the availability of abundant alternate food species in warm water, losses of the warm water sport fishes are believed minor compared to losses river otters can inflict on cold water species such as trout and salmon. 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. They spend a significant portion of the day scent marking territory by urinating, defecating, scratching and rubbing their scent glands on rocks and trees. Females have 4 mammae on the upper chest and are slightly smaller than males. Female adults measure about 44 inches (112 cm) and weigh 19 pounds (8.6 kg). Gestation lasts about 60 days, and the young, called kits, are born almost 1 year after conception. 1; Bluett et al. River otters are top predators in North American wetland systems. 1) are best known for their continuous and playful behavior, their aesthetic value, and the value of their durable, high-quality fur. 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. River otters (Lutra canadensis, Fig. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. 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 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. and are the smallest marine mammal in North America. They are perfectly happy to hunt in the ocean,” says Isadore. River otters stay in family groups during the summer and early fall. Following breeding and fertilization in spring, eggs (blastocysts) exist in a free-floating state until the following winter or early spring. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Even when our gates are closed, we are still here, working as always to save species. 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. About River Otter Ecology Project. With a streamlined body and webbed feet, this otter is a great swi… While young otters swim naturally, the mother must coax them into the water for their first swim. “Otters need fresh water to keep their fur clean and to drink, but they’re very comfortable in any kind of water. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. Using fertilizers sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and picking up after your pet can also improve watershed health. Stealing of prey from another otter sometimes occurs, most typically males stealing from females. General Biology, Reproduction, and Behavior, Best Practices for Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators. You can be an incredible ally for conservation! They don’t like human encroachment, and are uncommon nowadays. As prey, otters provide a great source of nutrients to animals that hunt them for food. 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. How much water can a river otter drink in three days? Are you a hunter? They have an elongated, thick, neck with long, narrow head and small eyes, small, tapering ear which is rounded at the tip, pointed, short tail; and broad, webbed feet. The pelage(covering, or coat, of a mammal, whether of wool, fur, or hair) is brown or reddis… They devour fish and other prey, keeping ecosystems balanced. At the center of the range in California, sea otters spend 40-50% of each 24-hr period foraging, although in more recently occupied areas at the edge of the range they may feed as little as 20% of the time. Adult river otters weigh 10 to 33 pounds (4.5 to 15 kilograms) and are about 2.5 to 5 feet (76 to 152 centimeters) in length. needs of otters are not supported by recent studies. They are powerful swimmers and are continuously active, alert, and quick—characteristics that give them immense aesthetic and recreational value. The Japanese river otter ... Ecology and biology Habits. Accumulation of mercury and selenium in the brain of river otters (Lontra canadensis) and wild mink (Mustela vison) from Nova Scotia, Canada. By 1977, the river otter was included as an Appendix II species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - not necessarily for the river otter’s sake, but more so for that of similar species with endangered status, whom officials feared would be inadvertently targeted by the fur trade in a case of mistaken identity. 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. Otter are carnivores, feeding on fish, crayfish, frogs, insects, small mammals, mollusks, and blue crabs. Pups grow rapidly and emerge from the den at about 2 months of age. 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. Females are slightly smaller, weighing 14-33 kg and measuring 1-1.4 m in length. MRC 5516 However, water pollution, uncontrolled trapping and severe habitat loss have reduced the number of river otters. 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. There is evidence that river otters' play activities strengthen social bonds, improve hunting techniques and scent mark territories. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, they eat a prepared meat diet and several types of fish. California sea otter: Enhydra lutris nereis Alaskan sea otter: Enhydra lutris kenyoni Russian sea otter: Enhydra lutris lutris: Body size. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At this point, they eat solid food but are not completely weaned for another month or two. 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. “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. Captured prey are brought to the surface for consumption, with the abdomen used as a table. The River Otter Ecology Project, a nonprofit organization studying river otter populations in Marin County, provided the otter videos from California. Upon learning there was a need for volunteers with River Otter Ecology Project, I saw a chance to learn about the North American River Otter; not only to help chart the return of another otter species, but also, hopefully, help to prevent a recurrence of what I had observed all those years ago. It represents our guide to managing otter populations in Pennsylvania for the next 10 years. North American river otters are known for their playful swimming, but they are also an important species for helping scientists understand the health of river … 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. Otter skeleton sketch based on 1947 illustration . In some provinces and states, major otter re-introduction projects are underway with much success. 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