River Otter
[Various pictures of river otters.] What do they look like?
River otter have long streamlined bodies and short, powerful legs with webbed feet. Although the record size for a northern river otter is 33 pounds and 54 inches in length, the average size is 18 pounds and 40 inches long. Males are approximately 17 percent larger than females.

Where are they found?
Otter live near water in lakes, rivers and marshes. They do not make dens, but use natural shelters or old dens of other animals such as beaver and muskrat. They are common throughout Maryland tidewater areas and are found irregularly in suitable habitat throughout the remainder of the state. Human encroachment and pollution have made some habitat unsuitable.

What do they eat?
These aquatic mammals have long, stiff, highly sensitive facial whiskers which detect prey movements in murky water. River otter prey primarily on fish. At times, crayfish and crabs also comprise a major portion of their diet. Infrequent food items include water bugs, young waterfowl, snakes, frogs, mussels, and even muskrats.

What other kinds of otters are found in Maryland?
The river otter is the only otter found in Maryland.

I didn't know that!
With eyes adapted for underwater vision, otter's are nearsighted above water. Sound, touch, and smell are very important senses that otter's use to communicate with each other.

[otter footprints in the mud]
Drawings by: W.H. Henry