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River Otters

Mustelid family. Lutra canadensis. River Otters. Aquatic mammals. 10-25 pounds 30-40 inches long + 12-15 inch tail 10-20 years life span Furred tail Eyes protrude 2 fur layers – underfur 7 guard hairs, subcutaneous fat. Swimming. Underwater locomotion Body Feet & tail steering

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River Otters

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  1. Mustelid family Lutracanadensis River Otters

  2. Aquatic mammals • 10-25 pounds • 30-40 inches long • + 12-15 inch tail • 10-20 years life span • Furred tail • Eyes protrude • 2 fur layers – • underfur 7 guard hairs, subcutaneous fat

  3. Swimming • Underwater locomotion • Body • Feet & tail steering • 4 minutes, ¼ mile • 7 miles/hour • Dive 50 feet • Best in water of all land mammals • Valves – seal ears & nose • Pulse rate drops • Slows blood & O2 circulation

  4. Swimming Excellent hearing Ok eyes on land Great eyes under water Keen sense smell Whiskers – search for food

  5. Diet - carnivores • Fish • Minnows • Sunfish • Suckers • Carp • Trout Aquatic plants/roots Crunch thru shells • Frogs • Turtles • Snails • Mussels • Crayfish • Snakes & eggs • Worms • Insects • muskrats

  6. Teeth - 36 • More teeth than any other mustelid in PA • 5 molars each side of upper and lower jaws • Only carnivore in PA w/ all these molars • Molars – perfect for crushing shells

  7. Play • Wrestle • Slide • Sled • Sounds • Chirp, chitter, chuckles, grumbles • Screams– danger • otters playing

  8. River freeze • Swim under ice find air pockets, dens • No hibernation • No food storage • Winter – water warmer

  9. Dens • Lakes, rivers, streams, islands, marsh high ground • Under tree roots, rock piles, • Abandoned beaver, muskrat, or woodchuck burrows • Beaver lodges • Underwater entrance hole, living space above water, several air or exit holes

  10. Reproduction • Mature 2 years • Breed Jan – May in water • Delayed implantation (Dec, Jan, Feb) • 2 months gestation • 1 – 5 young • Males polygamous

  11. Babies • Born April or May • Blind & toothless • Blind 5 weeks • Den until 3 – 4 months old • Learn to swim with mom

  12. Pennsylvania • Protected since 1952 • No hunting, no trapping • Restocking since 1980’s • Water Pollution & strip mine runoff- improved conditions • Population size? • Secretive • Nocturnal • Most in NE PA • NY & MD – high pops & trapping legal

  13. Keystone species • Clean water • Habitat provides for needs of many other species • Opportunistic feeders • Habitat loss & water pollution • Avoid humans • Top of food chain • Social • Playful

  14. Important questions ??? • How are otters designed for life in the water? • Why is clean water important to otters? • Why is it difficult to know the otter population in PA? • Are otters active in winter or do they hibernate? • Carnivores or herbivores? • Diurnal or nocturnal? • How can river otters guarantee that offspring will be born in the spring? • Describe how an otter swims. • When was restocking of otters introduced in PA? • What family do otters belong to? • How many teeth do they have?

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