Biologydictionary.net Editors. Their habitats can be both marine and freshwater. On land, river otters can bound and run quite well, if not quite as effectively as they swim. Polarized sunglasses and binoculars are useful. Basically, they can be found anywhere they have easy access to both land and water. This makes them poor pets. Retrieved from https://biologydictionary.net/river-otter/. They have brown, water-repellent fur, webbed feet and long tails. Their underbody is usually lighter in colour. River otters can measure up to 1.4 metres in length from nose to tail, and weigh up to almost nine kilograms. The limit is 5 otter per trapper and a CITES pelt permit must be purchased ($5) within 48 hours of capture. River otters make dens along the water in empty holes or abandoned burrows. Otters are great hunters, partially because they have sharp little teeth and a strong jaw! They breed in late winter to early spring, and the females give birth to between one and three pups. Visit our FAQ page. The aquatic mammals have several biological adaptations that have enabled them to inhabit several environments successfully. They love to playfully slide down snow-covered, icy, or muddy hills—often ending with a splash in the water. This allows them to feed even in murky waters. Once an otter has left the building, immediately seal the entrance with a hardware cloth "one-way door" (Fig. (Available from: University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, 202 Natural Resources Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0819; phone: 402-472-2188; also see Internet Sites below.). Mammals of the Pacific States They are trained to chase fish into the fisherman’s nets, and are rewarded with part of the catch and a safe home. The pups are blind and helpless when born. 4). Some lives in the … Augusta, ME 04333-0041, Mailing Address: Bobcats and coyotes are the main predator of river otters. River otters breed in late winter to early spring (January to April). River otters use their scent to mark their territorial boundaries. The only types of ecosystems in which otters cannot be found are deserts, mountains, and polar regions. It makes its home in a burrow near the water's edge, and can thrive in river, lake, swamp, or estuary ecosystems. River otters can measure up to 1.4 metres in length from nose to tail, and weigh up to almost nine kilograms. Spraint is deposited in less visible areas such as at the base of tree trunks and on boulders. If they survive the first year, river otters often live for eight to ten years. River otters thoroughly chew their food, so their droppings contain only fine bits of fish scales, bones, crayfish parts, and fish scales, and shells. The female raises the kits mostly without male assistance. (Fig. River otters are legally protected by the Illinois Wildlife Code as Furbearers. River otters are long, streamlined mammals. 6) Aluminum flashing, or aluminum or stainless-steel hardware cloth is recommended in saltwater areas since galvanized materials quickly corrode. Their underbody is usually lighter in colour. TTY: Maine Relay 711 River otters are prey for bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators. A trapping license and open season are required. If a river otter is causing property damage or is a public safety concern, it may be removed if an Illinois Department of Natural Resources district wildlife biologist issues a nuisance animal removal PERMIT. Modifying the landscape by destroying beaver and muskrat lodges and burrows may discourage river otters from taking up residence on the property. River otters may be trapped by licensed sportsmen or women with a valid permit issued by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2), River otter tracks show five pointed toes around a small heel pad. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also called the Canadian otter, is the most abundant species of otter. Such a fence can stand alone, or supplement an existing perimeter fence. (Fig. The otters deposit their spraint evenly throughout an otter’s range. Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Adult male river otters average four feet in length, including the tail, and weigh 20 to 28 pounds. Also, it is illegal in most states to own an otter. Their body shape and broad tail help them to maneuver quickly in the water. River otters (Lontar canadensis, Fig. River otters digest and metabolize food so quickly that it can take only an hour for food to pass through their intestines. To try and drive an otter away, consider harassing the animal. They eat mostly aquatic organisms such as frogs, fish, turtles, insects, and some small mammals. Humans trap river otters to obtain their pelts, control fish predation in private ponds and commercial fish hatcheries, and prevent damage to private property. An existing wire fence can be modified to keep otter out of an area by adding chicken wire to the bottom three feet. Canine distemper, a disease that affects domestic dogs, may be found in Maine river otter populations. Alternatively, include a wire apron on the animal side of the fence to prevent otters from entering from underneath (Fig. However, through conservation management and reintroduction efforts, populations have recuperated and are now considered stable. Written by: James R. Christensen, and Earl J. Arrison A one-way door can be used in conjunction with a welded wire or hardware cloth barrier. River otters can smell concentrations of fish in upstream ponds that drain into small, slow moving streams and will follow that smell to its origin, even in urban areas. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1998. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. A river otter’s metabolic rate is approximately 50% higher than a similarly sized land mammal’s. In the late 1980s, there may have been as few as 100 river otters left in Illinois, but today, river otters can be found in every county. They live in riparian zones, which are the areas that border stream, rivers, and lakes. They may be legally be trapped mid-November through March. Otters will push the paper out of the way when exiting. Learn more about river otters in Illinois in Outdoor Illinois Wildlife Journal: River otters are a top aquatic predator. One example is NCC’s Cherry Meadows property, near Kimberly, British Columbia.

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