North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
North American river otters are native to all of North America; from Canada and the United States down to parts of Mexico even and can inhabit almost any aquatic habitat available. Their fur coloration can vary from dark brown to even black with a lighter muzzle, throat, whiskers, and underside. A river otter’s thick coat helps to keep them warm, even in the coldest of temperatures. They have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with stout necks, broad flattened heads, webbed feet, and small eyes and ears. Their tails are long, heavy, and flat at the bottom and make up almost forty percent of the otter’s body. They are a part of the Mustelid family which also includes badgers, wolverines, minks, ferrets (which we also have at the Zoo), and weasels. Like other mustelids, river otters are carnivores and will eat what they can catch in the water.
Click HERE for a River Otter Activity Sheet for older kids!
Click HERE for a River Otter Activity Sheet for younger kids!
Our Current Residents
Ben and Mia were trapped in a fishery in Louisiana as pups (which is legal in areas where they are considered pests), by an individual who received a license to do so and brought them to ZooMontana. Due to them being born in the wild, we are unsure of their exact birthdate, but we make sure to celebrate them in February.
Ben, Male – Born February 2009 (estimated and celebrated)
Ben and the other otters can look very similar at times, but if you are looking for Ben specifically, he has the darkest of “tear streaks” or patches under his eyes, a whiter throat, and his ears stick out a bit more. Since arriving at ZooMontana, Ben and Mia have become parents to multiple different litters of pups.
Mia, Female- Born February 2009 (estimated and celebrated)
Mia is the only female otter we have here at the Zoo, but one way to tell her apart from the boys is that she may be a bit lighter in coloration (depending on the season) and is smaller than both males. Mia and Ben have become parents to multiple different litters, totaling up to 12 offspring since arriving at ZooMontana.
Sam, Male – Born on February 19, 2018
Sam is one of the offspring of Mia and Ben and was born here at ZooMontana. He was one of four males and when Mia did not look after them, they were raised by Animal Care Staff at the Zoo. Two of Sam’s other brothers went on to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, MT, but Sam still lives here at ZooMontana with his parents. If you are looking for Sam, he is the largest compared to his parents and is a bit more people-oriented. .
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Mustelidae
- Genus: Lontra
- Species: Lontra canadensis
Animal Facts
Carnivores: mainly eat fish, amphibians, and crustaceans
Population Status (according to IUCN): currently listed as Least Concern
Montana Population Status (according to Montana Field Guide): currently listed as Apparently Secure
Habitat: any aquatic habitat: rivers, streams, marshes, bogs, ponds, lakes, and oceans
Activity: nocturnal (can be diurnal) – mostly active at night (can be active during the day)
