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River Otter

Did You Know?

  • A river otter with just its head above the water's surface
    Photo: Susan Shafer
  • Otters groom their fur with a "towel" made of moss or grass.
  • In murky water, they can find their prey by sensing vibrations with their whiskers.
  • The otter is a swift and agile swimmer, using its muscular tail to make sharp turns and steering with its neck and webbed feet.
Watchable wildlife binoculars icon

What to look for

Size:

3-4' long including the tail which is about one third of the total length. 10-30 lbs.

Color:

Dark shiny brown fur.

Tracks:

3' wide and round in shape. In the winter, look for 6" wide troughs formed when otters slide through the snow into the water.

Scat:

Otters choose a prominent location such as a rock or peninsula of land for their "toilet" and use it over and over. Look for large collections of scat in such areas.

See Tracking Otters for images of otter scat, tracks and other ways to know if an otter is in the area.

Where to look

Otters spend most of their time in the water, so look in, or along the shores of ponds, lakes, rivers and the ocean.
Become a river otter steward. If you see an otter, report it to to DEC. Instructions on reporting an otter sighting.

When to look

Otters are active year-round.

More information about river otters:


Watch a clip on River Otters on DEC TV

North American River Otter

River otter history and distribution

Otters and water pollution

The best places to see river otters:

Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area

Newcomb Visitor Interpretive Center

Paul Smith's Visitor Interpretive Center

The Wild Center


More about River Otter:

  • River Otter Restoration - Bureau of Wildlife staff are conducting systematic surveys during late winter to measure the presence or absence of otters in the major drainage of central and western New York.
  • Page applies to all NYS regions
  • Contact for this Page:
  • Division of Public Affairs and Education
    625 Broadway
    Albany, NY 12233-4500
    518-402-8013
    email us