15 Fascinating Facts About Otters. Related Article:Giant Otters Used to Be Fearsome Hunters in Ancient China. Sea otters are generally violent and aggressive when mating. Webbed feet and powerful tails, which act like rudders, make otters strong swimmers. All rights reserved. Otters have their cubs in underground dens called holts, which they dig themselves. Conger, Cristen. Either due to better reporting or to increased otter savagery, the numbers grew over the decades, from three in the 1980s to 13 in the 1990s to 17 in the 2000s. The barbs on each hair strand hold in place the air bubbles that the otters blow into their pelts while groomingwhich they can spend up to five hours doing each day. Its thought to get its special odor, which some scientists describe as smelling like violets, from the seafood diet otters eat. As natural predators of fish, otters can consume significant quantities of fish, causing a decline in available stocks and potential economic losses for local communities. Stephens, Tim. 1. Several organizations fund research projects that better understand the ecology of sea otters in order to create meaningful conservation solutions moving forward. There they exchange information via chemical cues in feces. Otters have their cubs in underground burrows, known as 'holts'. But you can bank on the fact that there is an otter somewhere in a river near you if you live in Britain - a remarkable success story for a species driven to extinction in many parts of the country just decades ago. Among the endangered are the sea otters along the Californian to Alaskan coasts, which are threatened by "environmental pollutants and disease agents." For starters, male sea otters have been known to assault and even kill seal pups. Introduction to Otters. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The case against otters: necrophiliac, serial-killing fur monsters of the sea, The secret delegate battle that will decide the 2024 Republican nominee, The Dark Brandonmeme and why the Biden campaign has embraced it explained. In California's Monterey Bay, where scientists observed otters trying to copulate with the week-old bodies of dead baby seals, there are far more male otters than females. She is the author of "The Ethiopian Wolf: Hope at the Edge of Extinction. It was thought that otters helped keep water purified by. Ten months later, this same male was observed with the carcass of another female sea otter. They are generally not aggressive towards humans, but they may attack if they feel threatened or cornered, particularly if they are protecting their young or territory. More otters -> fewer sea urchins -> more kelp -> less global warming. Theyll keep baby otters underwater until females give them their food. Otters (genus Lutra) hail from the subfamily of Lutrinae and are carnivorous mammals. "River Otter, Wildlife Note." A river otter has an average weight of 20 pounds and is 4 feet long, while a sea otter weighs 70-80 pounds and is 6 feet long. 1. What we didnt mention, though, is thatotters can infect humans with the H1N1 virus. Playfulness does disappear, though, when food is scarce. otter, (subfamily Lutrinae), any of 13 species of semiaquatic mammals that belong to the weasel family (Mustelidae) and are noted for their playful behaviour. Sea otters live exclusively in the ocean along coastlines. How this animal can survive is a mystery. But some, particularly in present-day Canada and Alaska, viewed the river otter "with awe and dread" and associated the creatures with the undead and drowning. They then leave droppings called spraints, which refer to a single bowel evacuation and that researchers describe as smelling like violets. They can also dive up to 300 feet in search of food. They can also be called kits or kittens. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. However, theres more to these aquatic mammals than meets the eye. This adds an additional layer of complexity to the already challenging task of maintaining balanced ecosystems. One sea otter off the coast of British Columbia apparently raped and murdered a dog. Rats invaded paradise. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 2020. Only the North American River Otter has been classified as having a stable population . Otters use their dungknown as spraintto communicate with other otters. Oh, sure they do. On top of that, pups have 11 of their own calls that they intersperse with "infant babbling." Therefore, they are big on tools and will often use rocks to help crack into dinner. For centuries, fisherman have been training otters to act as herders and chase large schools of fish into the nets. They can also be harmed by entanglement with ghost nets and other rogue fishing gear. A version of this story originally ran in 2015. They live mainly on land that is very close to bodies of water. The golden poison dart frog (Phyllobates . European otters must eat 15% of their body weight each day, and sea otters 20 to 25%, depending on the temperature. Sea otters have an ingenious method to open shellfish. This provides everyone with easy access to information that they can use to become more informed on natural systems and conservation efforts. When a pup is small, the mother will hold it on her belly to keep it from floating away. Otters also have particularly stinky poop, which even has its own name: spraints. They tuck prey into pockets of loose skin under their arms and use rocks as tools to open shellfish. They learn to swim when they are about two months old, when their mother pushes them into the water. Although they do drink some water, koalas aren't highly dependent on this resource. In addition to their unexpected ferocity when defending their territory, they also exhibit unique territorial behavior. Lohan, Katrina and Karen McDonald. The transmission of these diseases and parasites from them to other animals or humans is a significant concern for conservation and public health officials. But the last 40 years haven't consisted of unerring progress for the sea otter. This ancient religion considered otters to be the dogs of the river or sea and had strict rules forbidding the killing of otters. These furry creatures eat meat, such as fish, disproportionately higher rates of fatality. "Sea Otter Society: The Single Moms' Club." Use permeable pavers and native plants in landscaping. Forced interspecies sex. The mammals like to keep things organized within their communities and will designate certain areas to be used as latrines. Something went wrong. I've discovered it improves your ability to focus, it's more calming, you retain more information, and it gives you a more balanced and nuanced view of the world." #16. Giant otters average a weight of around 75 pounds but some have been noticed to be over six feet long. Sea Otters Have the World's Thickest Fur, 20 Bizarre and Beautiful Starfish Species, 10 US Ecosystems Saved by Endangered Species, 12 Facts About Sea Otters for Sea Otter Awareness Week, How to Tell the Difference Between Sea Otters and River Otters, Whats Killing Sea Otters? What we can learn from Chernobyl's strays. They are skilled hunters and feed on a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Allison, Mari-Lisa, et al. Source: Scientific Reasons for B.S Things Our Bodies Do. Some researchers hypothesize that male sea otters may be mistaking the seal pups for female otters during mating season. In this article, well uncover the lesser-known, disturbing truths about otters, exploring their aggressive tendencies, complex social structures, and the impact they have on their ecosystems. Does eating close to bedtime make you gain weight? They are carnivores with a diet that includes a wide range of marine animals. In the absence of females of their own kind, then, they turned their typical sexual responses toward the seals. Their sleek bodies range in size from 2 to 5.9 feet. Female otters have a disproportionately higher mortality rate than males, and experts attribute this to their gruesome mating ritual. Did you know that otters hold hands while sleeping to prevent drifting apart? Their fur is super dense. To save chestnut trees, we may have to play God, Why you should add native plants to your garden, What you can do right now to advocate for the planet, Why poison ivy is an unlikely climate change winner. A decent share of the attacking otters have been rabid; in the '90s, 46 percent of otter attacks involved rabies, and in the '00s, 24 percent did. Re-introduction attempts have been successful and have seen promising outcomes in terms of species survival, population growth, and overall improved environmental quality. Axolotls and capybaras are TikTok famousis that a problem? However, in rare cases, otter attacks can result in more severe injuries, particularly if the victim is a child or elderly person. Indeed, trauma is the norm from sea otter mating, not the exception. Weight: 11 to 30 pounds. newsletter, the fight against catastrophic climate change. Generally the tail will make up about one third of the body. For one thing, sea otters murder other animals even when they don't get food out of it, just for fun or something. Are Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in love, or are they good actors? Despite regulations designed to protect them, many species remain at risk from pollution and habitat loss. Groenendijk, J., et al. Scientists Pinpoint Parasite Strain." Bodkin, J.L. Sometimes river otters will travel between 10 and 18 miles (16 and 29 km) in search of food. "A Keystone Species, The Sea Otter, Colonizes Glacier Bay." How to see the Lyrid meteor shower at its peak, The Stone of Destiny has a mysterious past beyond British coronations, Ultimate Italy: 14 ways to see the country in a new light, 6 unforgettable Italy hotels, from Lake Como to Rome, A taste of Rioja, from crispy croquettas to piquillo peppers, Trek through this stunning European wilderness, Land of the lemurs: the race to save Madagascar's sacred forests, Photograph by Charlie Hamilton James, Nat Geo Image Collection. Most injuries caused by them are minor, consisting of bites and scratches that can lead to infections. There has been at least one report of a male otter copulating and swimming with deceased female otters. Who buys lion bones? The otter has a lithe and slender body with short legs, a strong neck, and a long flattened tail that helps propel the animal gracefully through water. Two species . Occasionally an otter must grab on to a rock or some kelp to remain submerged while swimming. As otters build their dens, they can cause significant changes to their environment. On Nov. 25, 2019, comedian . Oceana reports, "It is thought that oil spills pose the greatest threat due to the proximity of sea otters to major tanker routes and their susceptibility to hypothermia if their fur comes into contact with oil.". First, male otters sometimes hold pups ransom to force their mothers to give up some of their food. UC Davis, 2019. It makes its home in a burrow near the water's edge, and can thrive in river, lake, swamp, or estuary ecosystems. Otter pups have so much air trapped in there, they actually cant dive under water, even if they want to. Otters have bodies that are long and slim, and have short limbs. All otters have webbed feet to help propel them through the water, and most species . But few species are violent in quite as disturbing a way as the otter. River otters have many interesting qualities and adaptations that make them wonderful entertainment. Otters have small, rounded ears, and long sensitive whiskers to help them feel the vibrations of their prey. They eat 9 pounds of food each day. Only one otter species seems to be thriving, and that's the North American River Otter.

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