When winter arrives, river otters will hunt under ice for food. Otters live near lakes or ponds and burrow in ditches, so interaction with people can occur. Habitat loss and water pollution also took detrimental tolls on river otters. Whether they are the cutest animal is up to you. From Mexica to Canada, otters are found primarily in areas of fresh water, but will live in brackish or coastal zones also. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/aquatic/river-otter Today, reintroduction efforts and stricter environmental regulation aid the increasing numbers of river otters. All otters are expert hunters that eat fish, crustaceans, and other critters. This tail serves to propel the otters through water. Click here for directions. These mammals have whiskers, which they use to spot their prey by detecting vibrations in the water. Florida's otters are up to no good.First, in March, a 90-year-old man in Venice, Florida, was brutally mauled by a rabid otter, which came streaking from the bushes of an otherwise peaceful street like a cute, button-nosed demon. River otters as a whole look quite similar to weasels. When cornered on land, they will fight and scratch. Mating season here is in the fall and winter, with a gestational period of about 60 days. This tail serves to propel the otters through water. The males are 30% larger and heavier then the females. They will also consume lizards and other items they can find on land when they need to. Otters in the Florida Everglades. These adorable creatures are not endangered but are sensitive to pollution causing them to become a … They have also been known to eat aquatic plants and to prey on other small mammals, such as muskrats or rabbits.They have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently. The main diet of the otter is made up of fish and crustaceans. River otters possess long, muscular bodies suited to their life on both land and in water. Male otters can grow to almost 4 feet long and can weigh up to 28 pounds. They have also been observed eating small mammals and occasionally even birds. However, otters differ from similar species like beavers, muskrats, and nutria that feed on plants. A female river otter exhibits delayed implantation of her fertilized egg, so that it will not implant on her uterus for several months. Their high metabolisms result in rapid food digestion. For most otters, fish is the staple of their diet. Some other common items that they will eat include invertebrates, birds, and small sized animals. Underwater, the river otter swims as fast as 7 miles per hour with considerable grace and agility, necessary for catching prey. Otters can swim 8 mph and dive up to 36 feet, though few Florida waterways have such depths. River otters play the role of apex predators, so the river otter food web represents great importance to many watersheds. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. River otters are smaller than their cousins, the sea otters. The babies are born fully furred. Otters can also eat birds, rabbits and other rodents. The animals sometimes … BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROUGH & READY MEDIA, DONATION CART    PRIVACY POLICY     CONTACT. River otters are strong, unmatched swimmers in their environments, and on land they can run at speeds up to 15 miles per hour. signing up for our email newsletter today. The fat layer underneath their skin protects them from cold temperatures. DONATIONS GREATLY APPRECIATED River otters possess special valves to seal their ears and noses while they swim underwater. These pups stay with their mother until autumn. River otters are apex predators in various watershed environments. They are partial to clean, unpolluted waterways and locations far away from the commotion of people. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin: Prey Preference of the North American River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Evaluated Based on Optimal Foraging Theory. By the 1980s there were 26 states in which otters were rare or extinct. Tatiana on September 19, 2019: You should remove this article and every advise on owning exotic pets. A typical litter will consist of 1-3 pups (sometimes called kits or kittens.) River otters chew their food well, leaving very little waste. North American river otters can grow to be three to four feet long and weigh between 10 and 30lbs and must eat the equivalent of 15 per cent of their own body weight each day to keep warm. The PRWC Education Center located at 3400 Ponce de Leon Parkway is now open daily to the public from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Click here to learn more. Our otters eat a prepared meat diet and several types of … Here are a few reasons why you should cast your vote for our otter habitat! 223 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd This is often supplemented by frogs, crayfish and crabs. The giant river otters are excellent predators. Last week’s blog about Peace River Wildlife Center’s river otter patients raised many questions. The father is usually chased off until the babies are weaned, at which time he may return to help raise the family. With their sweet appearance and playful nature, it may seem impossible that otters are dangerous. ANSWER: They are smart, agile, and strong predators. They are carnivorous, and most species eat a variety of fish, amphibians, shellfish, crabs, and other aquatic creatures. They are found throughout Florida except for the Keys, but they are shy creatures and are seldom seen except by quiet kayakers. However, otters can be aggressive when necessary. Canadian Journal of Zoology: Seasonal Diet of the Northern River Otter (Lontra Canadensis): What Drives Prey Selection? The whiskers on the face of the … Protecting these fascinating, playful animals aids many species. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. River otters are a water-loving member of the weasel family. J. Dianne Dotson is a science writer with a degree in zoology/ecology and evolutionary biology. Their body shape aids in helping them make sudden turns to catch fish and other prey. While youngsters are naturally able to swim, mother must persuade them to enter the water at first. This includes frogs, crayfish, and even crabs. Once abundant throughout the watersheds of the United States and Canada, river otter numbers suffered greatly due to hunting by humans. They are trapped for their warm waterproof pelts, but the main threat to their numbers is from habitat destruction or fragmentation and pollution. River otters prefer larger fish due to ease of capture; larger prey gives river otters more energy as well. The most common fish consumed are perch, suckers, and catfish. Their webbed back feet allow them to swim quickly through the water and they are typically seen feeding on turtles, fish, and an occasional baby gator. Their body shape aids in helping them make sudden turns to catch fish and other prey. Some of Port Charlotte’s and Punta Gorda’s brackish natural canals are frequently visited by otters, and they are occasionally spotted near the Harbor’s mangrove shorelines. The tail is 40% of total body length and facilitates their strong swimming skills. Typically such dens are makeshift, from log piles or similar natural sources, but often they will use former beaver or nutria dens as well. Guests are required to wear facial coverings while touring the facility. Their thick fur made them highly prized for their pelts. Although rain fell incessantly, the otter's dining habits were not the least bit dampened. Southwest Florida, with its abundance of creeks, swamps, and ponds, is a great place for this member of the weasel family to live. Needless to say it is hard to dispute the beauty and just overall awesomeness of the Florida otter. As aquatic mammals, otters spend most of their time in the water. If that doesn’t put a smile on your lips, there’s something wrong with your face. This species is a top predator and vital for the health of the ecosystems where they live. (That’s the equivalent of 30 pounds of food for a 200-pound person. They enjoy carp, sunfish, minnows, suckers, sculpin and salmonids such as: River otters also prefer slower-moving fish to game fish. North American river otters have long slender bodies, short legs, and webbed feet. River otters reach sexual maturity at two years. They are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine mammals, and subsist on diets mainly based on fish and invertebrates, such as mollusks. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Prey-dependence leaves otters very vulnerable to prey depletion. Their fur is thick a… GIANT OTTERS ARE SUPER CHATTY. Their toes are webbed, they have short legs and they boast a tapered tail ranging up to 15 inches long. The few natural river otter predators include bears, coyotes, bobcats, cougars and dogs. These otters have brown-to-gray fur, and their undersides are a lighter, silvery shade. North American river otters get their energy from their very high metabolism, which requires that they eat a great deal during the day. Sea Otters typically eat amphibians, smaller fish, mollusks, mussels, snails, and smaller underwater creatures. Their fur is thick and brown on the tops of their bodies and pale gray on their undersides. Generally solitary, river otters do engage in play when they meet. Their eyes and ears open at four weeks, and they are weaned by three months. River otters may live along rivers, lakes, ponds, sloughs, bays, estuaries or even along a seacoast. River otters can be found throughout Florida, except for the Keys, and are most often seen in or near water. Unlike many specialized animals that are adapted to water and clumsy on land, otters can run quite wel also, up to 18 mph. Reaching a length of 3 to 5 feet, the adults are well-muscled and weigh from 10 to 30 pounds. River otters are carnivores that prey on mostly aquatic organisms: Fish, frogs, clams, small turtles, etc. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a shy, if playful, weasel topping out at 30 pounds and five feet from head to tail.Otters are carnivores, eating mainly fish, crayfish, and frogs They are long, shiny, brown, seal-like animals that are often called the playboys of the 'glades. They are born in a den that the mother has dug or commandeered from another animal, in the bank of a river, creek, or pond. They have also been observed eating small mammals and occasionally even birds. © Peace River Wildlife Center. Otters are naturally social animals and often can be seen in groups consisting of a mother and her young. She will teach them to hunt and find shelter. Young otters are called kits, and females have two to five on average in a litter. In case you need another reason to protect this species, try watching them in the wild (or at your nearest zoo’s breeding program) while they frolic and cavort. With the ability to smell concentrations of fish and their high metabolisms, otters spend most of their time hunting for their next meal. Members of the Mustelidae family, otters are related to weasels, badgers, honey badgers, martens, minks, polecats and wolverines. Stay up to date with all of the PRWC happenings by signing up for our email newsletter today. Cape clawless otters and Asian small clawed otters love frogs, crustaceans, crabs and mollusks. A lifelong writer, Dianne is also a content manager and science fiction & fantasy novelist. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that they indulge in food that can be found in and around rivers. All you say and recommend is ethically against your Vet degree! They have long, narrow bodies, with long tails and short legs. There are hand sterilization stations available and social distancing will be encouraged. North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. Some otters are experts at opening shellfish, and others will feed on available small mammals or birds. She spent nine years working in laboratory and clinical research. A sea otter’s tool of choice: typically a rock that … But if you do decide to own an otter telling you how to properly care for your new family member. Conservation and reintroduction projects have decreased that number to 15. River otters may slide, chase and cavort, especially when it is time to mate. What Do Otters Eat Regularly? Without river otters, entire watershed food webs would suffer. We do ask that large groups requesting a guided tour call the office at 941-637-3830 to set up a reservation. Streamlined river otters are commonly observed in the spring at the Anhinga Trail and Shark Valley. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. Sea otters have an ingenious method to open shellfish. If opportunity presents itself, an otter will eat a rabbit, bird, or rodent that ventures near the water. River otters consume both aquatic animal and plant life, with some exceptions. Stop being sensitive everyone. Their toes are webbed, they have short legs and they boast a tapered tail ranging up to 15 inches long. Young river otters prove to be the most susceptible to predators. For this reason, the river otter must consume food often. Wildlife patient admissions River otters are apex predators in their food web. River Otters. All otters have webbed feet to help propel them through the water, and most species have sharp claws. They have a distinctive loping gait but are remarkably agile. These pregnant females seek shelter in dens lined with vegetation. Their thick, short fur is very dense to help conserve heat when in water, but they still require a high metabolic rate to maintain their proper body temperature. To. Book your trip online or call us at 866-532-7167 and maybe you can see an otter for yourself. The river otter food chain consists mostly of fish. River otters can live up to about 10 years in the wild. Quite a few people were unaware that otters are found in Florida, and other readers were curious about the habits and habitats of this adorable species. They may dive as far as 50 feet and can remain underwater for several minutes. They use their long, agile bodies to swim and hunt for many prey species such as fish, amphibians, crustaceans and other organisms. For example, the otters in the Florida Everglades are North American river otters, also known as the common otter. Few river otter predators exist in nature. Dianne features science as well as writing topics on her website, jdiannedotson.com. Small mammals in the river otter food chain include mice, immature beavers and muskrats. The female births a litter of two to four pups in the spring. Their dense, short under-fur is overlain by darker, coarse guard hairs that help repel water. Otters are meat eaters. River otters' main source of food is fish, but otters are opportunists by nature and will eat a wide variety of foods. Anything that is small and has a shell is fair game. River otters are carnivores that prey on mostly aquatic organisms: Fish, frogs, clams, small turtles, etc. They weigh 15-30 pounds, are usually dark brown, and have . All donations go to the care of wildlife. River otters (Lontra canadensis) are amphibious mammals known for their swimming ability. In 2014, a study of giant otters found that the river-dwellers … River otters do not store food or hibernate in winter. River otters belong to the weasel family. Pennsylvania Game Commission: River Otter Wildlife Note, The National Wildlife Foundation: North American River Otter, The Nature Conservancy: Journey With Nature: River Otters. When Europeans first arrived in North America, river otters were abundant across the continent from the Rio Grande north to Alaska, missing only in the desert states. River otters use their fine sense of smell on land; below the water, their eyesight is far keener. River otters eat a variety of aquatic wildlife, such as fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, birds’ eggs, birds and reptiles such as turtles. General information. Of course, gators can also eat otters, so it goes both ways! River otters can be found throughout much of the United States, Canada and Mexico around the Rio Grande and Colorado River deltas. Interestingly a pregnancy can last over a year due to delayed implantation of the fertilized eggs (called diapause), which helps to ensure the offspring are born during the most favorable conditions possible. Giant otters live on a diet that almost exclusively consists of fishes and crabs. They eat 15% of their weight daily to fuel that furnace. River otters’ life expectancy in the wild is up to 10 years, and they can live more then 20 years in captivity. You can see the otter and tons of other animals on one of ourFlorida airboat rides. To abide by CDC guidelines a limited number of guests are allowed within the gift store at one time. Most otters are born during the spring and spend the first few months of their life underground in the mother’s holt. The juveniles stay with mother for the first year, reaching sexual maturity at two years of age. The river otter food web maintains great biodiversity. River otters possess long, muscular bodies suited to their life on both land and in water. The giant river otters have also been noted to feed on small anacondas and caimans. Fish is a favored food among the otters, but they also consume various amphibians (such as salamanders and frogs), freshwater clams, mussels, snails, small turtles and crayfish. Reaching a length of 3 to 5 feet, the adults are well-muscled and weigh from 10 to 30 pounds. A large volume of food is needed to keep up the otter’s metabolism. We are open for animal intake at River otters belong to the weasel family. The river otter food chain also consists of mussels, bivalves, snails, crabs, crayfish, turtles, frogs, large beetles, worms, injured waterfowl or chicks, bird eggs, fish eggs, snakes and snake eggs. They do eat a lot of amphibians and fish, but they'll also take out sizeable beavers, raccoons, plus snapping turtles, snakes, and small gators. Burrows, where otters relax while not in the water, may be dug into the side of river banks or under a fallen tree or root near the water’s edge. River otters are smaller than their cousins, the sea otters. Crayfish, mollusks, frogs and fish might be the mainstay of an otter's diet, but that's not all they eat. The ultimate river otter predators are humans. They are powerful swimmers and eat a wide The river otter food chain also includes aquatic plants and roots. The river otter food web plays a crucial role in the environments the river otter calls home. The long whiskers around their noses, called vibrissae, aid in food searches in murkier waters. long and narrow bodies. Females typically are smaller. The otter is one of the few mammals that use tools. They aren’t vegetarians—they typically eat the things that eat the actual kelp (sea urchins). I could eat that many crab legs but would have a difficult time trying to eat that much broccoli in one sitting.). Otters have small, rounded ears, and long sensitive whiskers to help them feel the vibrations of their prey. The males are 30% larger and heavier then the females. River otters help thin invasive species and protect biodiversity. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Recently I watched as a solitary otter perched on the slightly submerged peat island and slowly devoured a huge, soft-shelled turtle. At two months the babies are introduced to the water, sometimes clinging to mother’s back until they are proficient swimmers. Diet. Our otter habitat is really something to be seen! 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