| River otters are amphibious animals that are | | | | River otters are omnivores and they eat a |
| related to the weasel family; sea otters are | | | | variety of insects, birds, crustaceans, small |
| their cousins, along with mink and | | | | mammals and plant matter. When an otter |
| wolverines. A river otter has a strong neck | | | | cannot finish eating its prey, it will leave |
| and a jaw that is capable of cracking shells | | | | the meal for other animals. |
| of crustaceans plus teeth for ripping meat. | | | | |
| An otter has a long narrow body with short | | | | Otters are social animals that live in groups |
| legs and webbed hind feet. The otter's tail | | | | containing combinations of males and females. |
| is also useful; it is powerful and it pushes | | | | Some groups can have all males, males and |
| the otter from side to side while swimming. | | | | females with pups, or females with pups from |
| The river otter has a soft pelt that it | | | | their current or previous litter. All of the |
| grooms itself; sometimes another otter helps | | | | otters are friends with one another and |
| with the grooming, while in a social group. | | | | fights never occur within a group. Each |
| Its thick undercoat is the bulk of the fur | | | | otter goes out and finds its own meal, which |
| and it has a thinner guard coat on the | | | | helps reduce the risk of fights over food |
| outside. Its whiskers help sense obstacles | | | | supplies. Both young and older otters like |
| while swimming or while on land. Hearing and | | | | to play with each another by chasing, hiding, |
| smelling are otters' best senses and sight is | | | | swimming and vocalizing; otters spend half |
| the poorest; they can see a bit better while | | | | their day playing and the other half |
| underwater. | | | | sleeping. They sleep piled up on each other |
| | | | and once they are all awake, they begin |
| A river otters weigh up to 40 pounds; | | | | grooming. |
| however, their cousin the sea otter can reach | | | | |
| over 100 pounds. Female otters are about a | | | | An otter is an excellent swimmer and diver; |
| quarter smaller than males and can reach up | | | | it can reach speeds up to 10 miles per hour |
| to 30 pounds. Otters live to be 20 years old | | | | while swimming on the surface or underwater. |
| both in captivity and in the wild. | | | | An otter will dive underwater for food and |
| | | | swim to 60 feet below the surface; it can |
| Otters live throughout North America and have | | | | remain there for several minutes. While on |
| the ability to hunt in saltwater or | | | | land, an otter has a great sprint speed, |
| freshwater. Many are found in Alaska on the | | | | which reaches 20 miles per hour when it runs |
| mainland, but few on the islands. Alaskans | | | | and slides. When an otter sees a human in |
| do not see them often; however, they leave | | | | the wild, it will run for cover and slide |
| evidence which lets people know they were | | | | into the water. Humans are the main |
| around. Slide marks on riverbanks or sprays | | | | predators of otters due to trapping; they |
| of urine help them mark their territories and | | | | only have a few enemies in the wild, which |
| communicate with other otters. | | | | are hawks or owls. |
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