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). 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. Most (n = 31, 63.3%) states used multiple methods to monitor river otter populations. (c) Susan Adams, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). [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. A group of otters is called a romp of otters. The River Otter is a river that rises in the Blackdown Hills just inside the county of Somerset, England near Otterford, then flows south through East Devon. Sea otters have the amazing capacity of being able to eat up to 25% of their body weight in food . [29] For instance, Catostomidae are the primary dietary component of North American river otters in Colorado's Upper Colorado River Basin. River otters were legally harvested in 40 states, while closed harvest seasons existed in 9 states; Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming (Table 1). T. Peltier, N. Forman, and W. Dodge also assisted with several aspects of this effort.We would also like to thank the Associate Editor and anonymous reviewers for constructive and value suggestions and comments that improved the quality of this manuscript. Catch-per-unit effort, population models, and presence vs. absence indices, such as bowhunter surveys and track surveys, were used less frequently (Table 1). 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. TheNorth Americanriver otter (Lutra canadensis) is a member of the weasel family. Found at DOI: https://doi.org/10.3996/102018-JFWM-093.S1 (599 KB PDF). [20] Large male North American river otters can exceed a weight of 15 kilograms (33lb). Late seasonal breeding of river ot- ters in Yellowstone National Park. Therefore, fish are more vulnerable to being preyed upon by otters because the crayfish have become more difficult to obtain. Instead of actually trying to spot an otter, researchers look for what they call latrine sights. Otters will always go back to the same few spots in their home range to defecate; this is what is known as a latrine sights. Note: Above species may only be taken by TRAPPING ONLY. [1], Lontra canadensis is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). They once lived in streams, rivers, lakes, swamps, and coastal areas throughout Canada and the United States. Nathan M. Roberts, Matthew J. Lovallo, Shawn M. Crimmins; River Otter Status, Management, and Distribution in the United States: Evidence of Large-Scale Population Increase and Range Expansion. We thank the many state natural resource agencies for their responses and cooperation. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA). They can thrive in any water habitat, such as ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, and estuariesin cold, warm, or even high-elevation areasas long as the habitat provides adequate food. Habitat They live in still or slow moving fresh water rivers, lakes and creeks. Crustaceans may even be consumed more than fish. [36] A study conducted on captive otters revealed they preferred larger fish, ranging from 15 to 17 centimeters (5.9 to 6.7in), more than smaller fish, ranging from 8 to 10 centimeters (3.1 to 3.9in), and they had difficulty catching fish species less than 10 centimeters (3.9in) or larger than 17 centimeters (6.7in). [28] Otters are known to take larger fish on land to eat, whereas smaller fish are consumed in the water. editors of this guide it should copy everything, but if you're not, it We estimated the county-level geographic distribution occupied by river otters in the continental United States during 2016 to be approximately 7,422,120 km275% of the total land area and 94% of the available total water area. [20] 2003 ). 2010). Continued monitoring of the population status and distribution at state and national levels would likely detect any significant changes should they occur. [1996], Roberts et al. Birmingham, AL 35223. When the mothers have established their domains, they give birth to several kits. 2003). Only four statesNevada, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wyomingdid not report any monitoring efforts. 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. They have small, round heads with small eyes and ears and prominent whiskers. The cessation of wide-scale reintroduction activities may suggest that the majority of suitable habitats are currently occupied by established river otter populations. Young otter pups attain sexual maturity at two years of age and at that time are driven away to establish their own territory. The Otter is having a snack as it swims by . The first River Otter that I have seen and I visit the area daily. Figure S1. 351 pp. River Otters can be thought of - and in a very real sense are - semi-aquatic weasels. [27], North American river otters are renowned for their sense of play. beaver river otter. The Ontario Trappers Association, 1150 pp. Critter Control near me The North American river otter occurs in much of Canada and the United States, except for portions of the Southwest, and in Mexico in the Rio Grande and Colorado River delta areas. Chanticleer Press, Inc. 937 pp. Houghton Mifflin Co., New York, NY. River otters were legally harvested in 40 states as of 2016. kodiak river otter. Their fur is dark brown over much of the body, and lighter brown on the belly and face. If there is no evidence of otters in a body of water it could mean that the body of water has been polluted or is unhealthy. Any use of trade, product, website, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 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). Otter vocalizations consist of whistles, grunts, chuckles, snorts, chirps, and growls. [29] In Georgia, crayfish accounted for two-thirds of the prey in the summer diet, and their remnants were present in 98% of the summer spraint. Twentyseven states, including Alabama, have trapping seasons, and four states and two provinces north american river otter. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Chasing is also a common game. This article will refer to the twelve species of river otter, information about sea otters can be viewed here. The otter can close its ears and nostrils when diving. 2006. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter and river otter, is a semiaquatic mammal that only lives on the North American continent, along its waterways and coasts. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. Even the otters at the zoo have chosen their own latrine sights. They have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently. North American river otters have a transparent inner eyelid (called a nictitating membrane) to protect their eyes while swimming.[10][24][25]. [9] The mammal was identified as a species of otter and has a variety of common names, including North American river otter, northern river otter, common otter and, simply, river otter. They feed on crayfish, crabs, fish, birds, small mammals, and some aquatic plants. [35] However, North American river otters, as foragers, will immediately take advantage of other prey when readily obtainable. The North American River Otter weighs on average 10 to 30 pounds and measures approximately two to four feet long from head to tail. 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.' While current harvest strategies do not pose a threat to maintaining otter populations, harvest may limit expansion of otter populations in some areas. Similarly, it is possible that false-negatives occurred, particularly at lower population densities. According to WTMJ-TV, the Milwaukee County Zoo in Milwaukee shared the news . 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. [20], The mothers raise their young without aid from adult males. Since inclusion under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the U.S. Where an otter looks seal-like, a mink looks ferret-like, however. They are very flexible and can make sharp, sudden turns that help them catch fish. The Sea Otters are larger and weigh between 40-95 pounds. In the winter, crayfish made up one-third of the North American river otter's diet. They are fast, agile swimmers and able to out-maneuver their prey. The Cahaba River is one of the most biodiverse waterways on Earth. North American river otters are mainly fish eaters. Twenty-one of the 23 states (91.3%) that implemented reintroductions reported that populations were increasing or had reached population goals, and 2 states (Minnesota and North Dakota) indicated that populations were stagnant or geographically restrained (Table 1). An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14kg (11.0 and 30.9lb). 2006. Nevertheless, these results provide an empirical, albeit coarse, contemporary estimate of river otter range in the United States. Steele Creek Recreational Center, Satsuma, AL. 2630 Cahaba Road [32] Fish are the primary component of the North American river otter's diet throughout the year. Otter.ai uses AI to write automatic meeting notes with real-time transcription, recorded audio, automated slide capture, and automated meeting summaries. They are born blind and remain in the den to nurse for the first month. Herein we provide an updated account, as of 2016, of river otter population status and distribution in the United States and discuss conservation priorities. We surveyed state wildlife agency experts regarding 1) the legal status of river otters in their state, 2) the statewide river otter population trend, 3) the results of reintroduction efforts (if applicable), 4) the population status of river otters since reintroduction efforts, 5) the method(s) of river otter population monitoring, 6) how frequently adjustments are made to harvest regulations (if applicable), 7) and the geographic distribution of river otters in their state. Low Conservation Concern. Field Guide to Mammals, North America. 2003). The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Otters are very secretive and shy and would rather run away than attack. In the past, their soft and attractive fur could be sold for a decent amount of money. [54], During the winter and spring, when the water levels were higher, North American river otters had a greater tendency to prey upon crayfish (73% of scats had crayfish remains) rather than fish. 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