rtripple...I saw this online...and learned more today
North American river otter, a member of the weasel family, is equally versatile in the water and on land.
It establishes a burrow close to the water's edge in river, lake, swamp, coastal shoreline, tidal flat, or estuary ecosystems. The den typically has many tunnel openings, one of which generally allows the otter to enter and exit the body of water. Female North American river otters give birth in these burrows, producing litters of one to six young.
North American river otters, like most predators, prey upon the most readily accessible species. Fish is a favored food among the otters. The smell and hearing abilities of the North American river otter are acute. Otters have specialized teeth, including sharp canines and carnassials that inflict lethal bites to prey. Adult North American river otters are capable of consuming 2.2 to 3.3 lbs of fish per day. OUCH!
North American river otters are active year-round, and are most active at night. They become much more nocturnal in the spring, summer, and fall seasons, and more diurnal during winter. North American river otters can remain underwater for nearly 4-8 minutes. North American river otters may even cooperate while fishing. Small fish are eaten at the surface, but larger ones are taken to the shore to be consumed. Live fish are typically eaten from the head. Fish are the primary component of the North American river otter's diet throughout the year. The potential predatory impact of otters may be considerable whenever fish are physically confined, most commonly in smaller ponds offering sparse cover or other escape options. The deciding factor whether the North American river otter can establish itself as a permanent resident of one location is the year-round availability of fish.
North American river otters typically breed from December to April. In early spring, expectant mothers begin to look for a den where they can give birth. The female otters do not dig their own dens; instead, they rely on other animals, such as beavers, to provide suitable environments to raise their offspring. When the mothers have established their domains, they give birth to several kits. Litter size can reach five, but usually ranges from one to three. The mothers raise their young without aid from adult males.
Like other otters, the North American river otter lives in a holt, or den, constructed in the burrows of other animals, or in natural hollows, such as under a log or in river banks. An entrance, which may be under water or above ground, leads to a nest chamber lined with leaves, grass, moss, bark, and hair.[22] Den sites include burrows dug by woodchucks, red foxes, nutria, or beaver and muskrat lodges. North American river otters also may use hollow trees or logs, undercut banks, rock formations, backwater sloughs, and flood debris. The use of den and resting sites is chiefly opportunistic, although locations that provide protection and seclusion are preferred.
