As the days shorten and the weather begins to cool, most of us feel energized and become more active. This is also true for wildlife; stirred by the autumn chill and driven by the need to prepare for the winter months, many of our native mammals become restless, and thus more visible, during the waning days of fall. What better time to set out in search of one of our more interesting and entertaining residents, the river otter?
A member of the mustelid family, which includes badgers, mink and weasels, river otters were once common along most wooded streams in North America. Though extirpated from many areas during the 1800s, they are now making a gradual comeback due to hunting restrictions, habitat restoration and reintroduction programs. Nevertheless, "development" and pollution remain a threat in most regions.
River otters favor woodland rivers, lakes and swamplands where they feed primarily on fish, crustaceans and amphibians; on occasion, they also consume aquatic birds, eggs, turtles and small mammals. Equipped with dense fur and a streamlined body, adults weigh 15-20 pounds and adapt well to a variety of climates. Breeding occurs in late winter or early spring but implantation is delayed and a litter of 2-5 kits is born a year later; their lifespan in the wild averages 8-10 years.
Males become solitary and territorial during the breeding season and females are reclusive when their kits are young. But, for much of the year, river otters are sociable and playful creatures, exhibiting a zest for life that we don't see in some mammals (including many humans). Those hoping to absorb some of this energy should look for the otters at dawn or dusk, when they tend to be most active.
