Moonring Nature Photography :: North American River Otter - Species Lutra canadensis

The river otter tends to travel in pairs and hang out in groups. They are very playful animals. They enjoy mud/snow sliding and burrowing through the snow. By "playing around" they build up strength while still having fun. To keep in touch during all this playing they whistle, growl, chuckle, and scream. The reproductive patterns of these animals tend to occur in the spring. At this time the female mates, but the fertilized eggs do not begin to develop until the fall, this is called delayed implantation. There is something within their body that allows this to occur. The babies are born 10-12 months after the implantation. After the birth of the young the male leaves and does not return until he is needed to care for them. The babies are born blind, so they require much attention from their mother for the first two months. Within a year they leave their home to begin a home of their own. River otters live to be about 15 years old in their natural habitat and about 20 years old in captivity.

Canada and the United States, except for the tundra and arid southwestern U.S., to Nova Scotia they live in lakes, streams, and coastal marshes.

North American River Otter (Lutra canadensis)

General Information

Habitat and Range




	Prev Image ID: OTT7861-G Next View Full Screen
	North American River Otter (Lutra canadensis) General Information The river otter tends to travel in pairs and hang out in groups. They are very playful animals. They enjoy mud/snow sliding and burrowing through the snow. By "playing around" they build up strength while still having fun. To keep in touch during all this playing they whistle, growl, chuckle, and scream. The reproductive patterns of these animals tend to occur in the spring. At this time the female mates, but the fertilized eggs do not begin to develop until the fall, this is called delayed implantation. There is something within their body that allows this to occur. The babies are born 10-12 months after the implantation. After the birth of the young the male leaves and does not return until he is needed to care for them. The babies are born blind, so they require much attention from their mother for the first two months. Within a year they leave their home to begin a home of their own. River otters live to be about 15 years old in their natural habitat and about 20 years old in captivity. Habitat and Range Canada and the United States, except for the tundra and arid southwestern U.S., to Nova Scotia they live in lakes, streams, and coastal marshes.