From their curious faces to their charming behaviors, the otters of the world have earned the title of many nature lovers’ favorite creatures. Fluffy fur and husky profile. So glad you shared your otter escapade! In this part of the world, sea otters are found on the west side of Vancouver Island, never here in the Strait of Georgia. A sea otter! Although similar looking, river otters tend to be skinnier and less furry than their sea otter cousins, and spend much of their time running around on land as well as in the water. Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. The oldest recorded otter reached around 12 years of age, but this is exceptional. Sea otters live in large colonies, but river otters tend to stay in small family groups. The pool is heated, and the staff cannot be nicer. Females are about 25 percent smaller than males. Otters are semiaquatic animals that spend a part of their lives on land. The video is excellent, too. Go further to know facts on Otter vs Beaver vs Muskrat comparison. While members of both otter subtypes love to swim, the swimming behaviors they engage in are quite distinct. So when I’m out for a walk, just minding my own business enjoying the fall colours, and something fantastic happens, I tend to kick into explainer mode. If you spot an otter in the Chesapeake Bay, it’s a river otter, whereas if you spot one in Monterey Bay (especially in the water), the chances are high that it’s a sea otter. As I filmed, I listened to the people’s reactions: “Oh look! But instead, I held back and listened to the conversation, thinking back to ten years ago or so when I first saw river otters in the ocean. THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!! Don't know if you know or not but Calgary has had a pair born. Meet a man whose roommates are a pair of river otters. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. But river otters never got the memo about being river otters. I will google it ;). They’re even known to wrap their babies in kelp to keep them safe and warm while they’re off hunting, and as the Marine Mammal Center describes, these pups end up bobbing up and down on the surface of the ocean like little corks! I got out my camera and started getting some video. Otters have five toes and the heel pad tends to be somewhat horseshoe shaped. Also found along the west coast of Scotland. Both kinds of otters: A furry bundle of awesome. The otter is a member of the order Carnivora. Terms and Conditions. Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. However, we noticed a conundrum that many readers seem to get themselves into. One of the rituals that river otters are known for is something called the "otter poop dance." Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. First, sea otters are two to three times the size of river otters — and, when at the water’s surface, they float on their backs, while river otters swim belly down like most animals. Like most wildlife, otters may be hostile when confronted. Man, they know how to have fun. Very often swim on their backs. Almost never found on land. Length: Adult river otters are about four to five and one-half feet long, including its 18-inch tail. Your email address will not be published. These are river otters. Run easily on land. If you’re on a river in the middle of the North American continent, far away from any seaboard: it’s a river otter. It’s without a doubt that otters are some of the most adorable mammals to ever grace the planet. Love sea otters? Finally, river otters can dive to around 60 feet deep, whereas sea otters, remarkably, can dive to several hundred feet to forage for food. Here’s what I do: Read More about “I think we should work together.”…. Thanks Don – great blog. Make a note of that snorting. Learn how your comment data is processed. The ears appear large on its small flattened head. The last little guy of the group was having a heck of a time getting into the culvert and was starting to get pretty stressed about being left behind by his siblings. We were treated to a family of six river otters in the bay just off Second Beach in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. River otters keep their young safe by their side and in dens that they build on riverbanks, while sea otter moms typically keep their pups nestled on their stomachs as they float until they are old enough to swim on their own. The Otters were so much fun and so playful it definitely was one of my biggest dreams to come true. They go wherever the fish are: ponds, lakes, rivers, lagoons, and right into the ocean whenever they want. River otters are very messy eaters—but they really appear to love eating. Identification. Land Behavior. I've seen this with neotropical river otters and giant otters as well, not just our North American variety. Everyone who sees them on the lakeshore thinks they are irresistible. So glad he made it in there. Otters can be found in streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Sea otters are mainly native to the northeastern seaboards of the Pacific Ocean, so they aren’t spotted in areas like the East Coast or the Gulf of Mexico. Run easily on land. Sea otters: Dark brown with a much lighter head. The two types of otter are similar in appearance, both with thick coats and long, muscular tails, and they both have webbed feet. River otters: Dark brown. They will also use the abandoned burrows of other animals including beaver lodges. Over the past few years however, we have had the exciting chance to view true sea otters near Victoria, as an increase in their population has brought them closer to home. For a change. I am going to compare Otter vs Muskrat vs Beaver, There is misunderstanding in people, they call them with same name because they looks same in appearance. Eventually, four of them swam off down the shore, and a few minutes later, Tom and I saw a bunch of people gathered at the edge of the sea wall, clearly interested in something. All otters have webbed feet to help propel them through the water, and most species have sharp claws. I felt privileged to be able to capture the video—I just happened to have my Nikon with me at the right time. The fisher, tayra and martens are partially arboreal, while badgers are fossorial.A number of mustelids have aquatic lifestyles, ranging from semiaquatic minks and river otters to the fully aquatic sea otter.The sea otter is one of the few non-primate mammals known to use a tool while foraging. This gift package is filled with sea-otter-themed goodies from plushes to a documentary and more. Sea otters typically give birth to only one pup, and care for their young until they become independent around eight months to one year old. Burrows may be constructed in the bank or in submerged trees. Give a sea otter gift package. Thanks! The German word for otter is "fischotter" which is a much more sensible name than "river otter." Long and sleek, it has short legs, webbed feet, and a long tapered tail. River otters are more petite. We work with parks and museums and science centres and aquariums, to help them plan and produce their programs and exhibits. River Otter (Lutra canadensis) Description The otter is the largest member of the weasel family (Mustelidae) found in South Carolina. (and it isn’t going all that great at the moment, apparently), http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-zoo-celebrates-birth-of-otter-pups-1.1759310, http://stanleyparkecology.ca/ai1ec_event/water-loving-otters-beavers-2/?instance_id=632. Short tail. River otters (Lutra canadensis, Fig. Our ocean faces many threats like the onslaught of ocean trash, overfishing and ocean acidification. It can defend itself against opponents without getting any wounds. Sleek fur and skinny profile. Observe a sea otter closely — then sway with a kelp forest in our Otter Spotters online course! Gerry Lunn Exactly except those that frequent bays… you know what those are called. Please try Awesome article, thanks! With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing solutions to save our ocean. Adult otters measure 35 to 55 inches in length, about one-third of which is tail. River otters as a whole look quite similar to weasels. Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup, Ocean Action Network, Trash Free Seas, Trash Free Seas Alliance and Rippl are registered trademarks of Ocean Conservancy. That’s a sea otter, yo. The … During the winter, they may leave ponds and lakes that freeze over for the open water of rivers and streams. Read More about “What is interpretive planning?”…. Great vid and article. If an otter feels threatened, its heavy, muscular body and sharp claws are enough to overpower pets and small children. That physique lends itself to a kind of slinky-like locomotion on land, and you can see a brief clip of it here. They have long, narrow bodies, with long tails and short legs. Suitable habitat for river otters is any wetland that provides adjacent bank vegetation, burrow sites, and a food supply. Don’t worry about responding. Long, serpentine tail. There is still hope that one day humans and Otters will be able to live in harmony. They hung around for about 5 minutes and then swam off. Students grades PreK–2 will learn about animals with fun, interactive lessons. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. One thing many people don’t realize is just how much larger sea otters are compared to river otters. Sea Otter vs Beaver: Fight Comparison (Beaver vs Otter) If we compare a beaver with an otter, the beaver is largest and has sharp teeth and more mass that will help to attack its opponent. When it comes to distinguishing between river otters and sea otters…well, what is the difference, anyway? An otter is muscular, streamlined and solidly built. I’m so glad you enjoyed the article. Otters and Humans Relationship. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Big, black, triangular “teddy bear” nose. See all courses. At least, not yet; they are slowly recovering from being nearly completely wiped out by the marine fur trade in the early colonial period, and if all goes well for them (and it isn’t going all that great at the moment, apparently) we may see them back here in a few years. It uses "anvil" stones to crack open the shellfish that form a significant part of its diet. They travelled the 125 feet from the back of our property in no time at all and in the 35 years I have lived here in west Vancouver I have never seen them in the creek or on the land. We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! Periodic messages. I’m a freelance interpretive planner and visitor experience advisor: I work collaboratively with parks, historic sites, museums, aquariums and other organizations to help bring their stories to life. We have river otters in front of our place and they are such fun to watch, but why do they have to poop on land? The fur is a rich brown, moderately short, and very dense. Sea otters rarely venture on land, where their movements are awkward and clumsy. River otters do not pose a significant threat to property, pets or humans. Almost always swim in a dog paddle, almost never swim on their backs. Nice write up Don! Many residents regard otters as desirable animals because of … In contrast, the agile river otter is frequently ashore. Whether you’re sailing the coast of the Pacific Northwest or hiking the riverbanks of West Virginia, you now have the tools to tell the difference between river otters and sea otters. Factors t… Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. Otter fur is a rich, dark brown and is lighter on the … Reports now state that otters inhabit every county in the UK – great news for the otter! Ocean Conservancy is a 501(c)3 – Tax ID #23-7245152 – Donations are 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law. While the females are similarly much smaller than the males at 10-20 pounds, male river otters only reach a maximum size of around 30 pounds. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. Thank you, it really was an amazing experience and I will definitely be back to see you guys and the Otters! 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