Usually their claws are sharp, but not in sea otters. Occasionally we see them in the SF Bay Area. Each is playful, curious and depends on water for it's food source. Photo: River otter or sea otter? River otters are more petite. The late great Nyac, a survivor of the Exxon Valdez. Clawless otters are relatively social. River otters can eat a fifth of their total body weight each day, whereas sea otters can consume almost a third of theirs within a day. We receive no government funding, and depend solely on financial support from our friends. My name is Don Enright. At least, not yet; they are slowly recovering from being nearly completely wiped out by the marine fur trade in the early colonial period, and if all goes well for them (and it isn’t going all that great at the moment, apparently) we may see them back here in a few years. Today I saw two large river otters make their way past my house down the rock stairs, across the lawn and disappear into the raging creek at the bottom of our property. Their tails are short and not as muscular as river otters. Giant otters live on a diet that almost exclusively consists of fishes and crabs. River otters live near rivers and other sources of fresh water. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. If you spot an otter in the Chesapeake Bay, it’s a river otter, whereas if you spot one in Monterey Bay (especially in the water), the chances are high that it’s a sea otter. There seem to be three lineages of otter that they are finding with genetics. ID Reports Web Extra: (UNCUT) Gov. Otters are really, really smart. Look for tracks on muddy river banks around ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, marshes and beaches near fresh water. River otters tend to be solitary and fairly territorial. Otters have more of a curved form in the water, with most of the body and tail riding just beneath the surface. Sea otters are mainly native to the northeastern seaboards of the Pacific Ocean, so they aren’t spotted in areas like the East Coast or the Gulf of Mexico. Abie Alcee. The video is awesome! They travelled the 125 feet from the back of our property in no time at all and in the 35 years I have lived here in west Vancouver I have never seen them in the creek or on the land. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. However, just because an otter is spotted on the coast does not mean it’s a sea otter. They figure mom will allow them to see people in May http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-zoo-celebrates-birth-of-otter-pups-1.1759310, The Stanley Park Ecology Society is running a great evening program on otters and beavers this Sunday. I've seen this with neotropical river otters and giant otters as well, not just our North American variety. River Otter. Anyway. Otters vs Beavers. The two types of otter are similar in appearance, both with thick coats and … Get monthly (ish) updates via email from Don Enright. We’re dedicated to working with indigenous communities, legislators, scientists and people like you to advocate for science-based solutions to protect this fragile ecosystem. Our ocean faces many threats like the onslaught of ocean trash, overfishing and ocean acidification. They are in the same subfamily Lutridae. Abie Alcee. Unlike their river otter cousins, sea otters spend almost their entire lives in the water, rarely coming onto dry land. I felt privileged to be able to capture the video—I just happened to have my Nikon with me at the right time. The oldest recorded otter reached around 12 years of age, but this is exceptional. We have river otters in front of our place and they are such fun to watch, but why do they have to poop on land? Sea otters are acclimated to salt water, and come to shore only for occasional rest periods and to give birth. River otters: Dark brown. I got out my camera and started getting some video. Lakiesha Britni. I’m a compulsive explainer. When it comes to distinguishing between river otters and sea otters…well, what is the difference, anyway? River otters keep their young safe by their side and in dens that they build on riverbanks, while sea otter moms typically keep their pups nestled on their stomachs as they float until they are old enough to swim on their own. Although similar looking, river otters tend to be skinnier and less furry than their sea otter cousins, and spend much of their time running around on land as well as in the water. Newsflare. Burrows may be constructed in the bank or in submerged trees. River otters keep their young safe by their side and in dens that they build on riverbanks, while sea otter moms typically keep their pups nestled on their stomachs as they float until they are old enough to swim on their own. If your community has stocked triploid grass carp, otters may remove them from the pond. Nice write up Don! On the surface, at first glance, there may not seem like much of a difference between otters and beavers. Mihaifrancu. But instead, I held back and listened to the conversation, thinking back to ten years ago or so when I first saw river otters in the ocean. River otters: Dark brown. We receive no government funding, and depend solely on financial support from our friends. If you look closely at river otters, you’ll notice that they have short, coarse fur made up of two layers: one for keeping them warm, and another ‘waterproof’ one outside of that. This video by Tom Reynolds shows sea otters first, then river otters. Check out our handy identification cards below and test your otter expertise with the answers at the end of this blog. I never sell or share my lists. The … 0:37. The marine otter (Lontra felina) is a rare and relatively unknown South American mammal of the weasel family . Read More about “What is interpretive planning?”…. If you seek to achieve success when trapping river otter, check out the following sets that reduce misses and put more fur in your trap shed. Text HELP to 69866 for more information. Hind foot tracks of otters are bigger than their corresponding front foot tracks, no doubt a helpful adaptation because otters are swimmers. 1:29. 5:20. I’m so glad you enjoyed the article. Sea otters are twice the size of river otters, and are never far from the ocean. River otters are very messy eaters—but they really appear to love eating. Thank you for solving this mystery. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family.While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. Share Link. Eventually, four of them swam off down the shore, and a few minutes later, Tom and I saw a bunch of people gathered at the edge of the sea wall, clearly interested in something. I'll be integrating your little tid bits into the Beavers and Otters walk I'm doing this Sunday in Stanley Park. On the figure below, Enhydra is the sea otter. In this post I want to introduce you to ten facts about river otters and their poop, because poop plays a central role in a river otter's social life, and their social life centers around pooing. River otters are typically about one-quarter the size of sea otters, and they have tails that are longer and more rounded. They have long, narrow bodies, with long tails and short legs. Please check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Sea otters only exist in oceanic environments. Meet a man whose roommates are a pair of river otters. During the winter, they may leave ponds and lakes that freeze over for the open water of rivers and streams. Otter tracks will also, at some point, reliably register clear mesial webbing – the webbing unites the toes at the half-way point. This webbing is unique to this piscivorous swimming mustelid. The most significant problem they cause is consumption of fish. The more diverse river otters live primarily in freshwater rivers and streams, but are also found in coastal saltwater areas. Fluffy fur and husky profile. Wild Kratts. Slides. Whether you’re sailing the coast of the Pacific Northwest or hiking the riverbanks of West Virginia, you now have the tools to tell the difference between river otters and sea otters. "I was hiking in Point Reyes ... in search of river otters," said filmer Jonathan Cade Castle. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. Wild Animals . The River Otter Ecology Project is a registered 501 (c)(3) EIN #45-4997526 non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of river otters and our watershed. The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. A left front bobcat track desired for their young and making them much bigger and bulkier family six. Help of donors like you, ocean Conservancy is developing solutions to save our.. Many species of otters in the water also look for a thick water-repellent. 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