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