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Otter Identification
Otter Identification
Look-Alike Species
Look-Alike Species
Be careful with sightings of “Otter” where you cannot get a photo. Beaver, Muskrat and Mink can look a lot like an otter when swimming, especially at a distance. They are all brown.
Check out: https://www.maxwaugh.com/2015/06/27/animal-identification-throwdown-otter-vs-beaver-vs-muskrat/
River Otter
River Otter
Beaver
Beaver
Muskrat
Muskrat
Mink
Mink
Tracks
Tracks
Distinguishing the families
Distinguishing the families
Weasels (Otter, Mink): 5 Toes, Claws Visible.
Raccoons: 5 Long, Thin Fingers/Toes, Claws Visible
Rodents (Beaver, Muskrat): 5 Long, Thin Fingers/Toes, Claws Visible
Dogs (Coyote, Fox): 4 Toes, Claws Visible.
Cats (Bobcat): 4 Toes, Claws Typically NOT Visible.
River Otter Tracks
River Otter Tracks
Five rounded toes, claws usually visible, large 3-4 inch track, webbing may be visible.
Otter Tracks
Otter Tracks
An otter track is about 3¼″ (80 mm) wide or more, about 4” in long, and often show only heel pad and claws. Toes fan out widely, but webbing rarely prints, except in mud. (riverotterecology.org)"
Look-Alike Species' Tracks
Look-Alike Species' Tracks
Mink
Much smaller than otter, half the size. A mink track is about 1½“ wide by 1½“ long.
Raccoon
© W. Terry Hunefeld
Long, thin fingers and toes. Front and rear feet very different sizes.
Beaver
Long, thin fingers and toes. Webbed rear foot. Front and rear feet very different sizes.
Muskrat
Long, thin fingers and toes. Front and rear feet different sizes. Much smaller than an otter. Front ~1”x1” Rear ~2”x2”
Coyote, Fox, and Dogs
Four toes. Claws visible. Two toes at top, two on sides. More oval print than Felids.
Bobcat and Cats
Four toes. Claws typically not visible. “Rounder” print than Canids. Toes in an arc along top more than the top and sides like Canids.
Scat
Scat
Quick Identification
Quick Identification
Otter Scat
- Fish scales
-Crayfish
- No Fur
- No Berries
Raccoon Scat
-Berries
Coyote Scat
- Fur
- Berries
Otter Latrine and Scat Examples, All Photo Credits: T. Johnston
Otter Latrine and Scat Examples, All Photo Credits: T. Johnston
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