This is another otter that has suffered at the hands of man.  Originally it was widespread, ranging from Alaska to Florida, but today it is largely absent from most of mid America due to hunting, habitat loss and pollution.  Even in 2002 the American river otter is still trapped for fur in 38 states.

The short, dense fur is dark brown, with the face, chin, and throat having a greyish.  The River Otter is long and cylindrical in body shape. It has short legs and a short, thick neck. These otters are largely fish eaters relying on a wide variety of species but they will occasionally take amphibians and reptiles.

River Otters mate in late winter and early spring. After mating, a delay of 290 - 380 days occurs before the actual development of embryos begins. Gestation takes 60 - 63 days once implantation of the embryos in the uterus occurs. In March or April, from 1 - 6 young are born in a leaf- and grass-lined holt close to a water source. The young, called cubs, are developed enough to leave the holt with the female at 10 - 12 weeks of age.

An American River Otter is capable of breeding once it reaches about two years of age. The American river otter has a delayed implantation of the embryo in the uterus which makes the gestation period appear very long, ranging from 9 to 12 months; this delayed implantation is rare in otters although it is common in the mustelid family as a whole.

Besides obviously being found in rivers, these otters also live in lakes, coastal marshes and even rocky sea coasts.  They are active both day and night.

Conservation:  Least Concern

Size:1 - 1.5m

Weight:10kg

Gestation:   9-12 months

Litter Size: 2-4

Diet: Fish including kokanee, mountain whitefish with occasional freshwater mussels and amphibians.

Conservation status:

Status and Distribution in America

Status and Distribution in Canada