They’re often seen in coastal areas near the mouths of rivers and creeks. just create an account. These include game fishes, bass (Centrarchidae) suckers (Catostomidae), and shiners. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. But you can bank on the fact that there is an otter somewhere in a river near you if you live in Britain - a remarkable success story for a species driven to extinction in many parts of the country just decades ago. Males are larger in size than females (see photos). It is around 3-4 feet in length, weighing around 11-30 pounds. In this lesson, we will take a closer look at one particular species, the North American River Otter. Outside of fish, river otters will also eat crustaceans, insects, birds, oysters, shellfish, turtles and a number of other aquatic life. Soon the babies are just as at home in the water as the adults. 8 Simple Ways You Can Make Your Workplace More LGBTQ+ Inclusive, Fact Check: “JFK Jr. Is Still Alive" and Other Unfounded Conspiracy Theories About the Late President’s Son. Reports now state that otters inhabit every county in the UK – great news for the otter! River otters primarily feed on fish with the size ranges from 2 – 50 cm (0.79 – 20 inches) which is really necessary since fish is a great source for gaining calories. Some otters, such as the River Otter, are mostly solitary. Humans also kill sea otters when they use fishing gear that traps the otter or hit the otter with boats. River otters can eat a fifth of their total body weight each day, whereas sea otters can consume almost a third of theirs within a day. However, there is a type of wild animal that fits this description extremely well: the otter. They also eat crustaceans, frogs and even small water birds. All otters are expert hunters that eat fish, crustaceans, and other critters. Because otters eat mainly fish, you’ll generally find them in areas where there are plenty of this food source. The North American River Otter is an animal with a very high metabolism, so it must eat quite often. What are some facts about this animal and what makes it unique? Its dark brown fur is smooth and water repellent, an important trait for a fast-swimming mammal. Sea otters eat about 20-30% of their body weight each day. Services. They eat mostly aquatic organisms such as frogs, fish, turtles, insects, and some small mammals. They enjoy carp, sunfish, minnows, suckers, sculpin and salmonids such as trout and salmon. Once you locate otters, take note of behaviour, weather and river conditions, numbers, and other general details of what you saw, along with times and dates. Even with the speed and agility of this otter, predators are still a very real threat. The otter is a fish hunter, though it happily eats waterbirds, amphibians and crustaceans too, including American signal crayfish. The den will often have many entrances and exits. of food daily. They’re a little harder to see in vegetated rivers but keep looking, especially when boating. © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. However, otters differ from similar species like beavers, muskrats, and nutria that feed on plants. Otters are eaten by large predators, such as great white sharks, killer whales, bears, sea lions, eagles and coyotes, depending on their geographical location. Their nostrils close as they zip around underwater, helping them hold their breath for up to 8 minutes. People also call it North American river otter. They hunt either alone or in pairs. By Staff Writer Last Updated Apr 2, 2020 3:00:50 AM ET. Its very long whiskers help with the detection of its prey while underwater. Create an account to start this course today. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia.The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. A fish farmer who claims his business was ruined after otters ate all of his 22,000 prized carp has been told his argument for damages is "hopeless". Sea otters have a high metabolic rate (that is, they use a high amount of energy) that is 2-3 times that of other mammals their size. Some other common items that they will eat include invertebrates, birds, and small sized animals. Tag: what do River Otters eat? Babies first learn to swim when they are about 2 months old. North American river otters get their boundless energy from their very high metabolism, which also requires that they eat a great deal during the day. Sea otters eat about 25% to 30% of their weight. River Otter (Lutra canadensis)What they look like: The River Otter is built for swimming - they have a streamlined body, short legs with webbed feet, dense fur that keeps them warm, a tapered tail, small ears, and nostrils that can close underwater. Posted on September 12, 2018 September 13, 2018 by Kim Smith. credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. - Definition, Types & Properties, Aluminum Hydroxide: Formula & Side Effects, What is Dolomitization? They will feed on fish, invertebrates, frogs, clams, crayfish, and small mammals or birds. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? All rights reserved. What Do Otters Eat Regularly? | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} Today though, otters have … Did you know… We have over 220 college The North American River Otter is a playful, semi-aquatic mammal found in rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes of North America. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. It is a carnivore, hunting other animals for its food. Anyone can earn River otters prefer larger fish due to ease of capture; larger prey gives river otters more energy as well. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. It is known as the common otter or northern river otter. With the ability to smell concentrations of fish and their high metabolisms, otters spend most of their time hunting for their next meal. Sleek, cylindrical body; small head; tail nearly one third of the body and tapers to a point; feet webbed; claws short; fur is dark dense brown. imaginable degree, area of However, river otters also hunt in the eelgrass beds of our local bays, which serve as nurseries for all sorts of small fish, including salmon. A female Otter can spend up to 8 hours a day nursing. The oldest recorded otter reached around 12 years of age, but this is exceptional. The U.S. Supreme Court: Who Are the Nine Justices on the Bench Today. Facts about River Otters talk about an animal, which can be found on the coasts or waterways of North America. Southern River Otter: Habitat, Population & Adaptations, Quiz & Worksheet - North American River Otter, Over 83,000 lessons in all major subjects, {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, Eurasian Otter: Habitat, Diet, Lifespan & Facts, Hairy-Nosed Otter: Habitat, Breeding & Population, Spotted-Necked Otter: Habitat, Diet, Lifespan & Facts, Smooth-Coated Otter: Habitat, Adaptations & Facts, African Clawless Otter: Habitat, Population & Lifespan, Asian Small-Clawed Otter: Habitat, Breeding & Adaptations, European Mink: Facts, Habitat, Adaptations & Population, What is a Mongoose? The mother raises her young alone. Log in here for access. Otters are often elusive, with large ranges and nocturnal behaviour making spotting them a rare and wonderful experience. Join us to learn more about a day in the life of this lively otter. The biological name is Lontra Canadensis. What Do River Otters Eat | River Otter Facts. Often seen frolicking on both land and in the water, the otter seems to make having fun an important part of life. “When an otter eats a sturgeon, the tag is often swallowed and later defecated at specific sites otters use as latrines.” Babey visited dozens of latrine sites along the Nechako River and used a scanning device, which Babey says is akin to a grocery store scanner, to find the PIT tags. They have webbed feet for swimming, dense fur for warmth, and can close their ears and nose underwater. What do Otters Eat? Those that have offspring may hunt more because it takes a great deal of milk to feed their young. Prey can be eaten while being held in their paws while still swimming in the water, whereas larger catches are hauled onto shore to be consumed at leisure. Visit the Kingdom Animalia: Study Guide & Review page to learn more. - Anatomy, Family & Diet, Baikal Seal: Habitat, Adaptations, Predators & Facts, Ringed Seal: Habitat, Population & Adaptations, Signs, Symptoms & Causes of Bloat in Dogs, Biological and Biomedical River otters are nocturnal hunters. Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. They can grow to be more than a meter long, from head to tail, and weight up to 14 kg. Mothers nudge the tiny otters into the water, and then strong instincts take over. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree. A member of the weasel family, the North American River Otter has a long body with short but strong legs. The river otter food web plays a crucial role in the environments the river otter calls home. Giant ottters are very sociable animals and often live in groups of … So, a 50-pound otter would need to eat about 10-15 pounds of food per day. Coyotes, large raptors and bobcats are just a few animals that hunt otters. River otters' main source of food is fish, but otters are opportunists by nature and will eat a wide variety of foods. It is an exceptional swimmer, sleek and aerodynamic in the water, and a carnivorous hunter, eating other animals, such as frogs and fish. It rests in burrows, dense shrubbery, under the root system of overturned trees, etc., so look for them along rivers and streams and around lakes and ponds, where there is a lot of forest and shrubby cover. As you may guess from its name, the North American River Otter is a species of otter found in and near waterways of North America. River otters eat virtually anything that you can find near lakes or streams. They use their long whiskers when swimming underwater to feel for the movement of their prey. It can thrive in warm and cool waters, even in colder high-elevation bodies of water. The North American River Otter is a playful, semi-aquatic mammal found in waterways of North America. The number of otters is increasing in Norfolk. It prefers to dine on fish, but also eats crayfish, and occasionally small mammals and birds. Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators will sometimes prey on North American river otters. 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. In Norfolk by the 1970s most traditional otter sites were deserted and whole river systems no longer supported any otters. River otters also prefer slower-moving fish to game fish. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? As long as there is plenty of food, most any body of water will do for these otters. A large male may consume as much as 11 kg (25 lb.) The habits and methods of eating differ by species as well. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. River otters' main source of food is fish, but otters are opportunists by nature and will eat a wide variety of foods. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, they eat a prepar… Please pass this on to an otter group in that area, so they can add the information to their database for monitoring and survey purposes. They can spend up to five hours each day finding the food that they need in order to survive. Eurasian otters are indigenous to the UK and can be found in either fresh or salt water, although it’s usually known as the river otter for the obvious reason. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. The primary source of food for the Otter is fish. They will also consume lizards and other items they can find on land when they need to. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. They’re often found in … The river otter food chain also consists of mussels, bivalves, snails, cr… Create your account, Already registered? The semi-aquatic river otter spends about 75% of its time on land and 25% in the water. Amazing behaviors. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). Wendy has taught high school Biology and has a master's degree in education. Let's take a closer look at this playful creature. Do giant otters live in a group? River otters eat mostly frogs, crabs, crayfish, fish and mollusks. River otters eat mostly aquatic organisms, including fish, frogs, crayfish, turtles, insects and some small mammals. Fact Check: Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe? Running across different types of terrain is no problem for these otters. Sea otters eat a wide range of marine animals, including mussels, clams, urchins, abalone, crabs, snails and about 40 other marine species, equaling approximately 25 percent of their weight in food each day, according to Defenders of Wildlife. {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | As aquatic mammals, otters spend most of their time in the water. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that they indulge in food that can be found in and around rivers. They will sometimes eat plants, and even the occasional small mammal, such as a rabbit. This allows them to feed even in murky waters. They’re often seen in marshes and wetlands. Sometimes river otters will travel between 10 and 18 miles (16 and 29 km) in search of food. Physical characteristics help otters with their outstanding swimming abilities. Otters eat from 15% to 25% of their body weight each day. What Do River Otters Eat | River Otter Facts. Otters declined catastrophically throughout England in the late 1950s. The average lifespan of the North American River Otter is about 8-9 years in the wild, although they can live much longer in captivity. It is not uncommon for anglers to have to fight river otters for their bait. Otters are meat eaters. River otters are happy in fresh, brackish and salt water. This includes frogs, crayfish, and even crabs. 's' : ''}}. These furry water lovers hunt mostly at night, following the scent of fish even into urban areas. 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Howard, How to Pass the Living Environment Regents Exam, How to Write a Personal Statement for Law School, Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Speaking of swimming, the North American River Otter is top in its class. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal In certain areas, alligators will nab them as well. – but our river systems still require extensive habitat management to restore them to a healthy level that can sustain fish stocks and wildlife. Although its name also suggests that it is only a river-dwelling animal, this isn't true. They also eat small mammals and birds. For example, river otters eat salmon; they follow them upstream when they come up rivers to spawn. Otters weigh 35-90 pounds (males weigh more than females). You can test out of the This semiaquatic mammal has the weight of 11 to 30.9 lb or 5 to 14 kilograms. Methods of Collecting Food. courses that prepare you to earn River otters prefer larger fish due to ease of capture; larger prey gives river otters more energy as well. Study.com has thousands of articles about every They can also be seen taking advantage of a good muddy or snowy hill to slide down, adding in their daily dose of fun. This otter enjoys feasting on a wide variety of different animals, such as fish, insects, turtles, frogs, birds and even eggs. They are carnivorous, and most species eat a variety of fish, amphibians, shellfish, crabs, and other aquatic creatures. The river otter food chain consists mostly of fish. Otter Diet: Otters live near water because it provides them with everything they need—including food. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. While otters are mostly carnivores, they will eat the corn that is used to fish for trout, especially along rivers that are stocked with hatchery fish. The North American River Otter is quite versatile, making its home in lakes, swamps, ponds and marshes, in addition to rivers. They generally forage in the water, but they can also hunt on land. Webbed feet and a very strong tail both propel them quickly and gracefully through the water. Sociology 110: Cultural Studies & Diversity in the U.S. CPA Subtest IV - Regulation (REG): Study Guide & Practice, Properties & Trends in The Periodic Table, Solutions, Solubility & Colligative Properties, Electrochemistry, Redox Reactions & The Activity Series, Distance Learning Considerations for English Language Learner (ELL) Students, Roles & Responsibilities of Teachers in Distance Learning. River otters and giant otters hunt by using their vibrissae to detect movements of prey in the water. What is the Difference Between Blended Learning & Distance Learning? 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Select a subject to preview related courses: The North American River Otter is an animal with a very high metabolism, so it must eat quite often. Read on to learn more. When we think of animals that are playful, we often imagine domesticated pets, such as cats and dogs. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons study OTTER KIT STEALS FROG FROM OTTER MOM? It is a carnivore , hunting other animals for its food. Get access risk-free for 30 days, River otters are apex predators in their food web. Unlike some other semi-aquatic animals, the North American River Otter is quite good at bounding around on land as well. Otters eat from 15% to 25% of their body weight each day. They hunt singly or in pairs and although otters generally forage in water, they are equally at home on land, sometimes traveling between 10 and 18 miles (16 and 29 kilometers) in search of food. With the ability to smell concentrations of fish and their high metabolisms, otters spend most of their time hunting for their next meal. Otters are adapted to life on both land and in water. 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