[52], Waterfowl, rails, and some colonial nesting birds are preyed upon by North American river otters in various areas. 'In the last three years, people have regularly reported otters fishing and swimming in the River Colne right in Colchester town centre, especially at Castle Park - a popular public area with a heavily managed section of river. The female otters do not dig their own dens; instead, they rely on other animals, such as beavers, to provide suitable environments to raise their offspring. [27] During winter, the North American river otters heavily use openings in the ice, and may excavate passages in beaver dams for accessing open water. [29] In Georgia, crayfish accounted for two-thirds of the prey in the summer diet, and their remnants were present in 98% of the summer spraint. River otters are not territorial, but individual North American river otters of different groups portray mutual avoidance. Crustaceans may even be consumed more than fish. These qualities give the North American river otter a streamlined profile in water, but reduce agility on land. River otters thrive outside of water too, and can sometimes be seen playing in snow or sliding down muddy hills. [15], Threats to North American river otter populations in North America vary regionally. North American river otters are not scavengers; they avoid consuming carrion. NE Swim Time Standards ; NE SWIM Meet Calendar 2020-2021; Outreach. Burrows may be constructed in the bank or in submerged trees. 2:49. The alarm call, given when shocked or distressed by potential danger, is an explosive snort, made by expelling air through the nostrils. In Idaho, North American river otters and beavers were recorded in the same beaver lodge simultaneously on three separate occasions. [33] Specific species of reptiles and amphibians prey include: boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata); Canadian toads (Bufo hemiophrys); wood frogs (Rana sylvatica);[34] bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana); green frogs (Rana clamitans);[36] northwestern salamanders (Ambystoma gracile); Pacific giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus); rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa);[33] and garter snakes (Thamnophis). Oct 26, 2018 - Explore Lori Lee Rudy's board "River Otter", followed by 135 people on Pinterest. [15], North American river otters are renowned for their sense of play. Want to be able to add the Otter calendar to your Goggle or Outlook calendar? Since 1976, over 4,000 otters have been reintroduced in 21 U.S. states. North American river otters also currently inhabit coastal regions throughout the United States and Canada. River otters are dark brown, fading to tan on the underside and on the muzzle and throat. Throughout its over 50 year history the Upper Canada River Otters Swim Club (UCRO) has trained children and young adults in the sport of competitive swimming with truly outstanding results. [36], North American river otters may prefer to feed on crustaceans, especially crayfish (Cambarus, Pacifasticus, and others) and crabs[50] more than fish where they are locally and seasonally plentiful. Watch as Tilly, Molalla's mom, gives swimming lessons to her new baby river otter Animals TV. Image of fauna, environment, wildlife - 70751359 [15], In early spring, expectant mothers begin to look for a den where they can give birth. In Idaho, juvenile, yearling, and adult males averaged 8, 11, and 17% heavier, respectively, than females of the same age. When the pups are about two months old and their coats grow in, their mother introduces them to the water. Detailed photographs enhance the information provided by the text. [28] The otters migrated to North America and southwards again across the Panamanian Land Bridge, which formed 3 Mya. Suitable habitat for river otters is any wetland that provides adjacent bank vegetation, burrow sites, and a food supply. Image of active, aquatic, mammal - 99178981 Next. North American river otters may be victims of canine distemper, rabies, respiratory tract disease, and urinary infection. ), chubs (Semotilus spp. They can remain under water for six to eight minutes! Designed to take the athlete from introduction to international, the River Otters program is dedicated to delivering innovative, multi-faceted and high-performance swim programs available to the youth of our community. They host numerous endoparasites, such as nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, the sporozoan Isopora, and acanthocephalans. During the breeding, the male grabs the female by the neck with his teeth. [15], North American river otters live an average of 21 years of age in captivity,[22] but they can reach 25 years of age. River Otters introduces students to some amazingly athletic creatures. River Otter. Head of a swimming river otter. - Minden Pictures - (river and (otters or otter)) [15], Aquatic life ties North American river otters almost exclusively to permanent watersheds. Overview. However, North American river otters remain rare or absent in the southwestern United States. For most people it is only in films that otters can be seen in their fluid swimming glory. Scent marking is imperative for intergroup communication. [15], The North American river otter is physically well-equipped for aquatic life. [31][33], Mammals are rarely consumed by North American river otters, and are not a major dietary component. In Idaho and Massachusetts, ecological elements preferred for latrine sites include large conifers, points of land, beaver bank dens and lodges, isthmuses, mouths of permanent streams, or any object that protrudes from the water. River otters, which weigh 20 to 25 pounds on average, are much smaller than sea otters, which weigh between 50 and 100 pounds. We aim to provide a high quality, high-performance, and innovative program where athletes can become the best version of themselves in and out of the pool. The club has been extremely successful over the years in training both children and young adults bringing them from an introductory level to a high-performance level. [34] Most aquatic invertebrates preyed upon by the otters are from the families Odonata (dragonfly nymphs), Plecoptera (stonefly nymphs), and Coleoptera (adult beetles). Family groups may include helpers, which can be made up of unrelated adults, yearlings, or juveniles. River otters are prey for bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators. “If there’s enough food for river otters, there’s a healthy environment too,” said Sarah Allen, science program lead for the National Park Service Pacific West Region who is also on the ROEP advisory board. Factors t… The otter's ears and nostrils close underwater. [19] Litter size can reach five, but usually ranges from one to three. Foot falls during walking and running follow the sequence of left limb, right limb, right limb, left limb. Home ranges of males are larger than those of females, and both sexes exhibit intra- and intersexual overlap of their domains. Adults were river otters ≥ 2 years old and subadults were river otters < 2 years old. River otters breed in late winter or early spring. [15] They have long bodies, and long whiskers that are used to detect prey in dark waters. [25], The North American river otter is more social than most mustelids. [52][55], The North American river otter has few natural predators when in water. Report. [32] High quality River Otter gifts and merchandise. A short, broad rostrum for exhaling and a long, broad cranium define the relatively flat skull. The pups are quick to learn, though, and are happily swimming in no time. Geo Beats. [56][57] Most North American river otter mortality is caused by human-related factors, such as trapping, illegal shooting, roadkills, and accidental captures in fish nets or set lines. The river otter's eyes and ears are located high on its head for surface swimming. Most mustelids, including otters, have specialized teeth, including sharp canines and carnassials that inflict lethal bites to prey. Minden Pictures is recognized worldwide as the foremost provider of wildlife and nature stock photography for use by publishing and advertising professionals. Thank you, it really was an amazing experience and I will definitely be back to see you guys and the Otters! The North American river otters may compete with the American mink (Mustela vison) for resources. They become much more nocturnal in the spring, summer, and fall seasons, and more diurnal during winter. River otter swimming - download this royalty free Stock Photo in seconds. Additional premolars may be present. Jean Beaufort … [10], The North American river otter is a stocky animal of 5 to 14 kilograms (11 to 31 lb), with short legs, a muscular neck (no smaller than the head) and an elongated body that is broadest at the hips. Her daughter, Amberle, is an Otter vet. [33], Although they consume birds, North American river otters do not feed on bird eggs. When they swim they use their tails and back legs to push them through the water at speeds of up to 18 mph! ); darters (Etheostoma spp. and redhorses (Moxostoma spp. Once a rare sight in Massachusetts, the otter population has been increasing due to sustainable harvest practices, better wetland conservation, and pollution control. The otter is a graceful and swift swimmer, capable of staying submerged for up to 4 minutes and of swimming a quarter of a mile under water. River Otter Pups Practice Swimming. The use of den and resting sites is chiefly opportunistic, although locations that provide protection and seclusion are preferred. High on its head out of the Pacific coast in North America vary.... Trout become lethargic in extremely cold water, but can also occur on grassy slopes muddy. Reduction in the Chagres river Panama group, use the abandoned burrows of other they. Distribution in recent years, especially in the wild, generally speaking for streamlined swimming are typically found near and. Young are born between February and April, [ 42 ] and true gestation lasts 61–63 days quality in... Nostrils when swimming underwater may use hollow trees or logs, undercut,. America reached approximately 50,000 pelts, for a den where they can live to... 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