Having been described as “King of The Water” and “Playboy of The Wild,” River Otters love to swim and play. They are very sociable with their own kind. They have brown fur on tap and silver on the bottom. A distinguishing trait is a long and tapered tail. Ralph LaPlant Photo

Having at one time lived throughout most of North America, the river otter is probably the most common otter species of the 13 worldwide with all continents except Australia and Antarctica having otters present. Fossils of the river otter date it back to 200 B.C. The otter ranges currently throughout most of the lower 48 Unites States except for southwest Texas, along the Mexican - American border in New Mexico and Arizona and most of Nevada, western Utah and Southern California. Most portions of Canada and Alaska are home to the river otter.

River otters are about 30 inches long, excluding their tail, which is tapered and ads up to an additional 17 inches of length. They weigh between 10 and 25 pounds. Colored dark brown on their upper body, the bottom fur is silvery. They have 36 teeth and four mammae. Their feet are webbed. They can be loud with voices that emit grunts, chuckles and chatters.

Young otters are born after a 9½ to 10-month gestation period, in April or May, with usually two to three, but up to five pups per litter. The young are born with fur and are initially blind.

Preferring a habitat of stream banks and lakeshores, otters have been observed traveling several miles to reach other bodies of water and because they are very sociable, they usually travel with at last one other of their species. Their home range is usually no greater than 15 miles.

Otter “slides,” are pathways from land to water. They use these slides for sport. Otters are active any time of day and year. Their dens are located in banks with the entrances often below the water level. The otter’s diet consists of mainly rough fish, frogs, crayfish, and other aquatic invertebrates.

By the early 1980s, eleven states experienced a decline in otter populations. Presently and probably due in part to reintroduction, the otter populations appear to be stable with only Colorado having a declining population and Indiana’s otter population described as “dead.” About half the states allow harvesting of this furbearer and all Canadian provinces, except Prince Edward Island, allow harvesting.

Otters are valuable, in part, because of their fur. In Minnesota, law allows trapping of the otter.  
Some who promote saving otters recommend the following: support environmental conservation (prevent habitat destruction), do not allow pollution (prevent the discharge of waste materials where otters live), do not buy illegally obtained furs or pelts (self-explanatory), and ensure that fish nets and roads near otter populations have built in protection for otters (fyke nets need stop grids at entrances and roads need fence lines).  

The river otter has been called “King of The Water” and “Playboy of The Wild.” They are fantastic swimmers and appear to spend more time than any other wild animal having fun. The otter, in captivity, has lived up to over 14 years.