North American River Otter

(Lontra canadensis)

RIVER ROYALTY

Diet

  • Diverse diet since they are found in many different habitats throughout our state

  • Eats fish, but also a wide variety of crustaceans, bivalves, small mammals and reptiles, and even birds


Agility

  • Very proficient swimmers and can glide through the water making sharp turns to catch fish

  • Speed on land can get up to ~15 mph and they can swim even faster


Defense Mechanisms

  • Very sharp teeth that can be used to crack open things like clam shells

  • Communicate using various sounds to warn each other about predators


Superpower

  • Have ~156,000 hairs per square inch on their body which means they can handle colder water temperatures

  • Can hold their breath for ~4 minutes underwater