Are there otters in alabama

They feed on crayfish, crabs, fish, birds, small mammals, and some aquatic plants. They once lived in streams, rivers, lakes, swamps, and coastal areas throughout Canada and the United States. Scientific studies have shown them to be sensitive to pollution. Still these animals are commercially harvested: 20, - 30, are taken annually for their lustrous fur.

Their legs are short with webbed feet and claws. The North American River Otter weighs on average 10 to 30 pounds and measures approximately two to four feet long from head to tail.

In the wild, their lifespan is approximately 8 to 9 years; in captivity it increases to about 15 to 20 years. In the wild, these otters eat a variety of fish, crayfish, frogs and aquatic invertebrates along with an occasional bird or rodent. They prey most often on slower fish, such as catfish, carp and sculpins. They use their sensitive whiskers which help them locate prey and catch their prey with their mouth, using their paws to hold on to the prey if needed.

In the Zoo, they eat meat, eggs, carrots, variety of fish trout, catfish, herring, capelin, smelt. Mating season depends on the latitude in which the otter was born. However, it typically occurs in winter or spring.

Their gestational period can last anywhere from two months to one year, as otters are capable of delayed implantation. Mammals of North America. Houghton Mifflin Co. William H. Burt and Richard P. Peterson Field Guide, Mammals. Wilson, D. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D. Sign Up. View More Results. Outdoor Alabama. North American River Otter. Photo Credit: U. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

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