River Otters

Did you know

River otter’s have thick fur and a long, slim body for swimming. They can hold their breath underwater for up to eight minutes. During the winter, they travel by sliding along the ice at distances of six metres or more per slide.

Common name: River otter
Scientific name: Lontra canadensis
Diet: Various aquatic species

Food & Habitat

River otters are near-sighted on land but see well underwater, using a transparent membrane to cover their eyes like goggles. This helps them catch a range of aquatic wildlife, like turtles, frogs, crayfish, and fish. After every meal otters wash themselves.

Breeding & Population

River otters live a semi-aquatic life, living in dens (known as holts) along shorelines, often in natural hollows or burrows made by other animals. They can be found across Canada and into the United States. Otters breed between late winter and early spring, producing on average 2-3 pups.

Interesting facts

A group of otters goes by many names, including bevy, romp and lodge. When in the water, the group is called a raft.
River otters combine musk from scent glands at the base of their tail with poop (known as spraint) and deposit along trails and shorelines to communicate information with other otters about identity, age and gender.

Two river otters at the edge of open water in winter.