Northern River Otter

Lutra canadensis

These intelligent curious animals are best known for their playfulness. Female otters are excellent mothers and teach their babies to swim and catch fish. This may explain why otters are both playful and easily trained.

Look For : A long, dark brown or black freshwater mammal with a flat-looking head and a long thick furry tail. When swimming, otters will often poke their heads out of the water, puff, snort, hiss, and look around (muskrats and beavers never do this).

Length : Body 23-32" long, tail 12-20" long; 11-30 lb.

Habitat : Waters rich in fish, especially lower sections of streams, rivers, and river mouths. Rarely in polluted waters or areas of high human population.

Range : Alaska and most of Canada south to northern California and northern Utah; in East, from Newfoundland south to Florida and west to Texas.