RANGE Alaska, Canada and the contiguous United States
HABITAT Streams, rivers, lakes and marshes
DIET Fish, frogs, crawfish, mollusks, other invertebrates, and small mammals
River otters will body-sled down a muddy or snowy slope and plunge into the water with a belly-flop. Their playful behavior strengthens social bonds and practices hunting techniques.
Otters have an accelerated metabolism that gives them seemingly endless energy, but it also means that they must hunt and feed frequently. Their favorite food is fish, but they also eat frogs, crawfish, mollusks, other invertebrates, and small mammals.
Otters deliver litters of 1 - 6 young. When the female is ready to give birth, she retreats to her underground den, which is usually near water. At birth, otter pups are born with their eyes closed and are completely dependent on their mother.
Although the North American river otter is not an endangered species, its population has been severely reduced or eliminated from much of its range. Otters face threats from water pollution and habitat destruction.
