Northern River Otter
Lutra Canadensis
Image by Dmitry Azovtsev on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Physical: The river otter has an elongated body with a broad, flattened head. Body size ranges from 26 to 40 inches in length, not including the tail, and can weigh up to 18 pounds. Their tales can measure from 12 to 19 inches in length. Males are approximately 17 percent larger than females.
Habitat: L. canadensis live in clean rivers, lakes, wooden ponds, and estuaries. They range from New Foundland south to Florida.
Feeding: Northern River Otter feed on a variety of fish, small mammals, and invertebrates. They use their long whiskers to detect prey underwater.
Breeding: L. canadensis mate in late winter or early spring. Young may not be born for up to 1 year due to delayed implantation and development of newly fertilized eggs.. A litter can range from 1-6 pups, but the average is usually 2 locally. River otters can live up to 8 or 9 years in the wild.
