Otter-Furbearer Profiles

Description:

The otter (Lutra canadensis) is a large member of the weasel family. The total length of these animals range from 38-47 inches, including the 12-17 inch tail. Otter can weigh up to 25 pounds, however, the average weight is closer to 12 pounds. The coat color varies from glossy black to a light brown. Otter are the only members of the weasel family having webbed feet and a heavily muscled tail.

Distribution:

Historically, the otter occurred in all watersheds of New York. During the 1800s, otters declined in the State. Human settlement and over-harvest were the primary reasons for this decline. New York passed legislation to protect otter in 1936. There was no open trapping season for nine years. After that, the State Legislature gave the Conservation Department authority to set annual trapping seasons. The Department of Environmental Conservation has used this authority ever since to set season lengths, catch limits, and tagging procedures.

Otter now occupy over 19,000 square miles of New York. They are commonly found in northern and southeastern New York. Their distribution has nearly doubled in the last 30 years. In recent years they have been documented very occasionally on Long Island.

From 1995 to 2000, over 200 river otter were caught by trappers and moved to several sites in central and western New York. This will extend the range of the river otter to almost all areas of New York with suitable habitat. This project was spearheaded by the River Otter Project, Inc. working closely with the Department of Environmental Conservation, along with many volunteers and cooperators.

Habitat:

River otter live primarily in stream and lake habitats. When not in search of food much of the otter's time is spent "playing" on mud or snow slides. Resting areas include bank dens, hollow logs, and abandoned beaver lodges.

Vegetation adjacent to lakes, streams, and other wetland areas is a key component of otter habitat. It may attract beavers, which in turn create ponds, bank dens, and lodges that are later used by river otters. In New York and the Northeast the beaver plays an important role by providing habitat for the river otter. Beavers are important to river otters because they create feeding and den sites. Several state wildlife agencies have correlated good river otter habitat with the activities of beavers. Suitable river otter habitat must also provide adequate food. A log jam can even provide habitat for otters. These log jams, are called "activity centers" because of their high frequency of use. These centers provide adequate shelter, abundant food, and minimal disturbance.

Behavior - Life History:

The otter, like most predators, is an opportunist, feeding on abundant and easily caught prey. Food items include fish, crayfish, clams, snakes, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, and a variety of water insects. Individuals may range over a 50 square mile territory searching for food. At times of food scarcity otters prey on muskrats and small birds and eat such things as blueberries and corn.

Otter breed in February but the young are born the following year between April and May. This seemingly long pregnancy is due to a delayed implantation of the fertilized egg. This is common in members of the weasel family. Normally litter size varies from 1-4 pups. The young stay in the den for approximately 60 days in a den and usually stay as a family group for about a year.

Otter are long-lived and are not thought to breed effectively until they are several years old; this is unusual among small to medium sized mammals.