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