Lontra canadensis

Location in the Zoo: Kids Kingdom

The river otter’s long narrow body is perfectly designed for fast streamlined swimming. The short legs, webbed feet, and strong tail propel the otter quickly through the water. It is extremely flexible and can make sharp sudden turns while swimming to catch fish. River otters have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently. They dine on a variety of aquatic animals, including fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, birds’ eggs, birds, and reptiles such as turtles. They eat around 15-20% of their body weight daily.

The otter is well known for its playfulness, engaging in chasing, wrestling, and sliding in mud and snow. This critter cavorting strengthens bonds among otters and helps the young animals practice hunting skills. On land, the river otter can run at speeds up to 15 miles an hour and they can slide even faster!

Trapped extensively for their fur in the 19th and 20th centuries, North American river otters were extirpated from portions of their range, but conservation and reintroduction efforts are helping populations to recover. Habitat loss and water pollution still puts these animals at great risk, especially because their habitat is so specified.