Critter Intros: River Otter

• Common Name: River Otter (North American River Otter)

• Scientific Name: Lontra canadensis

• Conservation Status: Least Concern

• Habitat: Freshwater systems including rivers, lakes, ponds, and swamps, as well as estuaries and coastal marine areas throughout most of North America.

• Size: Total length is about 3 to 4.5 feet (0.9–1.4 meters), with a weight of 11 to 33 lbs (5–15 kg).

The river otter is a highly social and playful member of the weasel family (Mustelidae), perfectly adapted for a semi-aquatic life. Known for their energetic sliding and swimming, their streamlined body, short legs, and fully webbed feet make them exceptional swimmers. They have dense, water-repellent fur to insulate them in cold water. River otters are active predators, with a diet consisting mainly of fish and crustaceans like crayfish, which they detect in murky water using their sensitive whiskers. They establish dens in burrows, under logs, or in abandoned beaver lodges along the water's edge. Though they were once threatened by over-trapping and pollution, their population has recovered in many areas, and they are now considered an important indicator of a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

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