Transcript River Otter Lontra Canadensis

North American River Otter
Lontra Canadensis
Ben Robinson
Taxonomy
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Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Lutrinae
Genus: Lontra
Species: Canadensis
River Otter Identification
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Color: Dark brown with
paler belly
Throat often sliver-gray
Total length: 38-58 in
Weight: 11-33 lbs
Hair: very smooth, repels
water easily
Long, slender
body=excellent swimmer
Identification continued
Long, stiff facial whiskers below the nose
which aid in locating and capture of prey
Carnivorous teeth: adapted for grasping, grinding, shearing, and crushing
Feet: large and completely webbed
Tail: very muscular, important for swimming, makes up 50% of total body
length
Maximum body length is reached at 3-4 years
Typical Foods: Fish, aquatic insects, crayfish, snakes, frogs, and to a lesser
extent waterfowl and mammals.
North American River Otter Skeleton
*Note the Long Tail*
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River Otter Tracks
Life History
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Breeding: early spring;
mating may take place in
water or on land
No strong bond between
male and female
Male will mate with more
than one female
Males will compete
heavily for females
Females exhibit delayed
implantation
Life History continued
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Delayed Implantation: female may retain the fertilized
egg for long periods of time before implantation to
become more nutritionally fit
Young: born April-May
litter 1-5 pups
young born with eyes closed and no teeth
female cares for pups
pups begin to swim at 2 months
weaned at 4-5 months, may stay with mother for 1 year
Life History continued
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Males and females are
able to reproduce at 2
years, however males
may not be successful
until ages 5-7
Voice: Whistle and
chattering call during
mating season, soft
chuckle, chirp, grunt,
snort, and growl
Sounds of the Otter
Otter
Otter Talk
Upset Otter
Diversity of Group
13 species worldwide; 2 in North America
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Species
Cape-clawless otter
Oriental-small clawed otter
Congo Clawless otter
Sea otter
North American River Otter
Marine Otter
Neotropical Otter
Southern River Otter
Eurasian Otter
Spotted-necked otter
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Range
Africa
Asia
Africa
North America
North America
South America
Mexico & South America
South America
Asia & Europe
Africa
Diversity continued
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Species
India smooth-coated otter
Hairy-nosed otter
Giant Otter
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Range
Asia
Southern Iraq & Asia
South America
North American Population Status
and Status in Kentucky
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North America:
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WHY? Over-harvest (trapping), Habitat Destruction, and Pollution
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Over 30,000 pelts are sold annually in the United States today
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River Otter numbers have drastically
decreased since the 1800’s
DDT pollution: gets into the liver and slowly kills the animal (a big
problem in the past)
Chemicals from crops (pesticides, herbicides) get into fish from runoff and the otter eats the fish = SLOW DEATH
Status in Kentucky
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Statewide, but not
very common
Generally more
abundant in western
Kentucky
Increasing in central
and eastern
restoration areas
2003-04 Small Game Kentucky
Hunting Seasons
ALL FURBEARER HUNTING & TRAPPING
 Noon November 10, 2003 through noon
February 29, 2004
 (Includes raccoon, opossum, mink,
muskrat, beaver, red fox, gray fox, weasel
and striped skunk)
*NOTE: NO River Otter*
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Threatened or Endangered
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Not federally threatened or endangered, but could
become so due to drastic declines in numbers! Are listed
as threatened by some individual states.
Wetland Habitat Needs
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Found in a variety of aquatic habitats:
from riparian to riverine to marine
Only found in areas with adequate
vegetative cover
Must have sufficient food supply
Need a variety of dens, activity, and
resting areas
Ecology
The River Otter is a
predator at the top of the
aquatic food chain
 Important in the nutrient
cycle by transferring
nutrients from one
ecosystem to another
Does this by feeding on
aquatic organisms, then
leaves its waste on land
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Ecology continued
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River otters frequent the same terrestrial
area to deposit waste; known as a latrine
Even though Otters are predators, the
pups are constantly preyed upon by Bald
Eagles and other large birds
Management Concerns
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Most states have strict regulations on otter
harvest
However, they are less strict on beaver harvest
Otters and Beavers occupy the same habitat
types = otters being trapped in beaver sets
Because otters (carnivores) require more habitat
area than say beavers or muskrats (herbivores),
they will never be as abundant as these animals
Management Concerns
What is being done?
Many states closely monitor otter numbers
 HOW?
1)Pelt Regristration
2)Fur buyer and trapper questionnaires
3)Winter track counts
4)Mammal observation studies
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Latrine System
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The latrine system “bathroom” used by
otters is one technique used by managers
to monitor the abundance of otters in an
area
According to the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game, River Otter habitat
selection and population monitoring can
be achieved by studying latrine sites
Thank you for your
time…Any questions?