The Status of the River Otter in North America
North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) – population status in North America. ( Data from 2000)
HP – Harvesting Permitted; E – Endangered species list; IP – Increasing population; SP – Stable population; SS – Species of special protection; SM – Small population; NH – No Harvesting; R – Reintroducing; T – Threatened population; PM – Protected mammal
|
STATE |
STATUS |
|
Alabama |
HP,IP |
|
Alaska |
HP,SP |
|
Arizona * |
NH, SM, R |
|
Arkansas |
HP, IP |
|
California |
NH, SP |
|
Colorado * |
NH, E |
|
Connecticut |
HP, IP |
|
Delaware |
HP, SP |
|
Florida |
HP, SP |
|
Georgia |
HP, IP |
|
Idaho |
NH, IP |
|
Illinois * |
NH, T |
|
NH, E |
|
|
Iowa * |
NH, IP, T |
|
Kansas * |
NH, IP |
|
Kentucky * |
NH, IP, PM |
|
Louisiana |
HP, SP |
|
Maine |
HP, SP |
|
Maryland |
HP,IP |
|
Massachusetts |
HP, SP |
|
Michigan |
HP, SP |
|
Minnesota * |
HP, SP |
|
Mississippi |
HP, IP |
|
Missouri * |
HP, IP |
|
Montana |
HP, IP |
|
Nebraska |
E |
|
Nevada |
HP, SP |
|
New Hampshire |
HP, SP |
|
New Jersey |
HP, SP |
|
New Mexico |
Extinct # |
|
New York * |
HP, SP |
|
North Carolina * |
HP, IP |
|
North Dakota |
Extinct |
|
Ohio * |
NH, IP, E |
|
Oklahoma * |
NH, IP |
|
Oregon * |
HP, SP |
|
Pennsylvania |
NH, SS, IP |
|
Rhode Island |
NH, IP |
|
South Carolina |
HP, IP |
|
South Dakota * |
NH, T |
|
Tennessee * |
HP, IP, T |
|
Texas |
HP, IP |
|
Utah * |
NH, SP, SS |
|
Vermont |
HP, SP |
|
Virginia |
HP, SP, IP |
|
Washington |
HP, IP |
|
West Virginia |
NH, PM |
|
Wisconsin |
HP, IP |
|
Wyoming |
NH, PM |
* Reintroductions have or are taking place.
# Spraint found in 2005 confirms the River Otter is present for the first time in 50 years.
Source of data from American River Otter Alliance, Jan Reed-Smith and Dr T Serfass