Northern River Otter - Photos by Bruce Dayton - Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

ORDER: Carnivora (Carnivores)
FAMILY: Mustelidae (Weasels, Badgers and Otters)
SPECIES: Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis - Lutra canadensis)

Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis -Lutra canadensis)
The Northern River Otter is a North American member of the weasel family. - It is a common animal in North American waterways. However, its numbers have significantly dropped since Europeans came to the Americas. - Its life span is 10-15 years in the wild, but it may live up to 25 years in captivity. - It is also known as the North American River Otter, River Otter or Otter. -
SIZE	Length: Range: 890-1,300 mm (35-50 inches) including the tail (They average about 40 inches) Weight: Range: 5-14 kg (11-30 lb.) (They average about 18 lb) Sexual Dimorphism: - the male is generally 20-25% larger than the female.
DESCRIPTION	The Northern River Otter has a long streamlined, muscular body with short powerful legs, webbed toes and a rudder-like (long muscular) tail. These characteristics aid them in their mostly aquatic life. Their short thick fur is a rich brown above, and lighter, with a silvery-gray sheen, below.
DEN	The Northern River Otter often digs a permanent den in banks, with both underwater and above ground entrances. But many times the den is constructed in the burrows of other animals, such as muskrats. These entrance leads to a nest chamber which is lined with leaves, grass, moss, bark, and hair. These dens are used for birthing and for shelter when harsh weather conditions are present.
MATING	North American river otters usually mate once a year in late winter or usually early spring. Due to delayed egg implantation, the gestation period can ranges from 285 to 375 days. The young are born in late winter or early spring. The size of the litter is usually 2-4 pups. The pups are weaned after 3 months.
BEHAVIOR	Northern River otters are among the most playful of animals: chasing, sliding, swimming, jumping and wrestling. A river otter is a powerful diver and swimmer and can remain submerged for several minutes. They can also travel quickly on land (run up to 18 miles per hour). They often propel themselves into a rapid slide on their belly over snow or ice. They also like to slide down river banks into the water.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE	The Northern River Otter is found throughout North America, inhabiting inland waterways and coastal areas in Canada, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Atlantic states, and the Gulf of Mexico.
HABITAT	The Northern river otter is found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, both freshwater and costal marine, including lakes, rivers, inland wetlands, coastal marshes, and estuaries.
DIET	The Northern River Otter is a highly active predator. Their eyes are adapted for seeing food in murky water, so they are nearsighted above water. They mainly eats fish, but also eat insects, frogs, and sometimes small mammals, such as mice.


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Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis - Lutra canadensis)

Verona Township Oneida County, New York


NtRvOt-259_605404	NtRvOt-259_055984


NtRvOt-259_055992	NtRvOt-259_055987