Otters
Otter Facts
Identification
River otters (Lutra canadensis)
are best known for their continuous
and playful behavior, their aesthetic
value, and the value of their durable,
high-quality fur. They have long,
streamlined bodies, short legs, and a
robust, tapered tail, all of which are
well adapted to their mostly aquatic
habitat. They have prominent whiskers
just behind and below the nose, thick
muscular necks and shoulders, and
feet that are webbed between the toes.
Their short but thick, soft fur is brown
to almost black except on the chin,
throat, cheeks, chest, and occasionally
the belly, where it is usually lighter,
varying from brown to almost beige.
Adult males usually attain lengths of
nearly 48 inches (122 cm) and weights
of about 25 pounds (11.3 kg), but may
reach 54 inches (137 cm) and 33
pounds (15 kg). Their sex can be
readily distinguished by the presence
of a baculum (penile bone). Females
have 4 mammae on the upper chest
and are slightly smaller than males.
Female adults measure about 44 inches
(112 cm) and weigh 19 pounds (8.6 kg).
The mean weights and sizes of river
otters in southern latitudes tend to be
lower than those in latitudes farther
north.
Damage and Damage
Identification
The presence of river otter(s) around
or in a fish hatchery, aquaculture, or
fish culture facility is a good indication
that a damage problem is imminent.
Otter scats or toilets that contain
scales, exoskeletons, and other body
parts of the species being produced is
additional evidence that damage is ongoing.
Uneaten parts of fish in shallow
water and along the shore is evidence
that fish are being taken. Otters usually
eat all of a small catfish except for the
head and major spines, whereas small
trout, salmon, and many of the scaled
fishes may be totally eaten. Uneaten
carcasses with large puncture holes are
likely attributable to herons. River
otters can occasionally cause substantial
damage to concentrations of fishes
in marine aquaculture facilities. Often
the damage involves learned feeding
behavior by one or a family of otters.
Damage Prevention and
Control Methods
Exclusion
Fence small raceways, tanks, or ponds
with 3 x 3-inch (7.6 x 7.6-cm) mesh
wire.
Trapping
Use Conibear® traps (Nos. 220 and
330), foothold traps (No. 2), and
snares to control river otters in
damage situations.
For restocking purposes, river otters
can be caught in live traps, modified
No. 1 1/2 soft-catch traps, and No.
11 longspring traps.
Shooting
If nonlethal approaches cannot be employed,
shooting with shotgun or
small-caliber rifle can be effective in
damage situations that involve only
one or two otters.
Range and Habitat
River otters occur throughout North
America except the arctic slopes, the
arid portions of the Southwest, and the
intensive agricultural and industrialized
areas of the midwestern United
States. Their precolonial range
apparently included all of North
America except the arid Southwest
and the northernmost portions of
Alaska and Canada. Otter populations
are confined to water courses, lakes,
and wetlands, and therefore, population
densities are lower than those of
terrestrial species. Their extirpation
from many areas is believed to have
been related more to poisoning by pesticides
bio-magnified in fishes, and to
the indirect adverse effects of water
pollution on fish, their main food, than
to excessive harvest.
The loss of ponds
and other wetland habitat that resulted
from the extirpation of beaver in the
late 1800s may have adversely affected
continental populations of river otters
more than any other factor. Increases
in the range and numbers of river
otters in response to the return of beaver
has been dramatic, particularly in
the southeastern United States. Recent
releases totaling more than 1,000 otters
have been made in Arizona, Colorado,
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri,
Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee, and West Virginia in efforts
to reestablish local populations.
River otters are almost invariably associated
with water (fresh, brackish, and
salt water), although they may travel
overland for considerable distances.
They inhabit lakes, rivers, streams,
bays, estuaries, and associated riparian
habitats. They occur at much higher
densities in regions of the Great Lakes,
in brackish marshes and inlets, and in
other coastal habitats than farther
inland. In colder climates, otters frequent
rapids and waterfall areas that
remain ice-free. Vegetative cover and
altitude do not appear to influence the
river otter’s distribution as much as do
good or adequate water quality, the
availability of forage fish, and suitable
denning sites.
Food Habits
The diet of the river otter throughout
its range is primarily fish. Numerous
species and varieties of fresh and
anadromous fishes are eaten, but shellfish,
crayfish, amphibians, and reptiles
are also frequently eaten, as are several
species of crabs in coastal marshes.
Mammals and birds are rarely eaten.
Consumption of game fishes in comparison
to nongame (rough) fishes is
generally in proportion to the difficulty,
or ease, with which they can be
caught. Because of the availability of
abundant alternate food species in
warm water, losses of the warm water
sport fishes are believed minor compared
to losses river otters can inflict
on cold water species such as trout
and salmon.
General Biology,
Reproduction, and
Behavior
The reproductive biology of river
otters and all other weasels is complex
because of a characteristic known as
delayed implantation. Following
breeding and fertilization in spring,
eggs (blastocysts) exist in a freefloating
state until the following winter
or early spring. Once they implant,
fetal growth lasts 60 to 65 days until
the kits are born, usually in spring
(March through May) in most areas. In
the southern portion of the range the
dates of birth occur earlier, mostly in
January and February, implying
implantation in November and
December. Litters usually contain 2 to
4 kits, and the female alone cares for
the young. They usually remain
together as a family group though the
fall and into the winter months. Sexual
maturity in young is believed to occur
at about 2 years of age in females, but
later in males.
River otters are chiefly nocturnal, but
they frequently are active during daylight
hours in undisturbed areas.
Socially, the basic group is the female
and her offspring. They spend much of
their time feeding and at what appears
to be group play, repeatedly sliding
down steep banks of mud or snow.
They habitually use specific sites
(toilets) for defecation. Their vocalizations
include chirps, grunts, and loud
piercing screams. They are powerful
swimmers and are continuously
active, alert, and quick—characteristics
that give them immense aesthetic and
recreational value. Their webbed feet,
streamlined bodies, and long, tapered
tails enable them to move through
water with agility, grace, and speed.
Seasonally, they may travel distances
of 50 to 60 miles (80 to 96 km) along
streams or lake shores, and their home
ranges may be as large as 60 square
miles (155 km2). Males have been
recorded to travel up to 10 miles (16
km) in 1 night.
River otters use a variety of denning
sites that seem to be selected based on
availability and convenience. Hollow logs, rock crevices, nutria houses, and
abandoned beaver lodges and bank
dens are used. They will also frequent
unused or abandoned human structures
or shelters. Natal dens tend to be
located on small headwater branches
or streams leading to major drainages
or lakes.
Legal Status
The river otter is listed in Appendix II
of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Flora
and Fauna (CITES). Its inclusion in this
appendix subjects it to international
restrictions and state/province export
quotas because of its resemblance to
the European Otter. Moreover, the
river otter is totally protected in 17
states. Twenty-seven states have trapping
seasons, and four states and two
provinces have hunting seasons.
Damage Prevention and
Control Methods
Because river otter damage has been
minor compared to that of other species,
and because of its legal status
under the CITES Agreement, little control
research and experimentation has
been done. Registration of repellents,
toxicants, or fumigants for river otter
control has not been sought. Alternate
aquacultural practices and species,
predator avoidance behavior, and use
of protective habitat have not been
fully explored. Careful assessment
should be made of reported damage to
determine if nonlethal preventative
measures can be employed, and to
ensure that if any lethal corrective
measures are employed, they do not
violate state or federal laws. Damage
problems should then be approached
on an individual basis. Cultural methods
and habitat modification are normally
not applicable. Opportunities to
use repellents, toxicants, fumigants,
and frightening devices are infrequent,
yet the development of any of these or
other effective nonlethal approaches
would be preferable to lethal control
measures.
Exclusion
Fencing with 3 x 3-inch (7.6 x 7.6-cm)
or smaller mesh wire can be an economically
effective method of preventing
damage at aquacultural sites that
are relatively small, or where fish or
aquaculture activities are concentrated.
Fencing is more economical for protection
of small areas where research,
experimental, or propagation facilities
such as raceways, tanks, ponds, or
other facilities hold concentrations of
fish. Hog wire-type fences have also
been used effectively, but these should
be checked occasionally to ensure that
the lower meshes have not been
spread apart or raised to allow otters
to enter.
Electric fences have also been used,
but they require frequent inspection
and maintenance, and like other fencing,
are usually impractical for protecting
individual small ponds, raceways,
or tanks in a series. They are of greater
utility as a supplement to perimeter
fences surrounding an aquaculture
facility.
Trapping
Traps that have been used effectively
for river otters include the Conibear®
(sizes 220 and 330) or other similar
body-gripping traps and leghold traps
(modified No. 1 1/2 soft-catch and No.
11 double longspring). The latter two
are usually employed to capture river
otters for restocking purposes. In
water, body-gripping traps are usually
placed beneath the water surface or
partially submerged where runs
become narrow or restricted.
They are effective when partially submerged
at dam crossings, the main
runs in beaver ponds, or other locations
where otters frequently leave the
water. Body-gripping traps are also
effective in otter trails that connect
pools of water or that cross small peninsulas.
Shooting
Shooting the offending otters that
cause damage problems will often
effectively prevent continued losses.
Although otters are shy, they are
inquisitive and will often swim within
close range of a small rifle or shotgun.
Extreme caution should be taken to
avoid ricochet when shooting a rifle at
objects surrounded by water.
Shooting river otters for fur harvest is
legal in four states and one Canadian
province. Check your local, state, and
federal laws and permits governing
shooting, the use of lights after dark,
the seasons, and the possession of otter
carcasses or parts, to ensure that
planned activities are legal.
Economics of Damage
and Control
Although individual incidences of
river otter damage and predation on
fish can cause substantial losses to
pond owners and to fresh water and
marine aquacultural interests, their total
effects are believed to be insignificant.
Given the otter’s aesthetic and
recreational value, and its current legal
status, consideration of broad control
programs are unwarranted and
undesirable.
The above information was taken from a University of Nebraska Web site with
express permission of Stephen Vatassel, wildlife damage project coordinator. |
