River otters can stay underwater for up to eight minutes and can close their ears and nostrils to keep water out. They can also dive to a depth of 60 feet! River otters primarily eat fish. read more
Outside of fish, river otters will also eat crustaceans, insects, birds, oysters, shellfish, turtles and a number of other aquatic life. These furry water lovers hunt mostly at night, following the scent of fish even into urban areas. read more
Like other otters, the North American river otter lives in a holt, or den, constructed in the burrows of other animals, or in natural hollows, such as under a log or in river banks. An entrance, which may be under water or above ground, leads to a nest chamber lined with leaves, grass, moss, bark, and hair. read more
River otters primarily eat fish. They are also known to eat whatever is easiest to find, like crustaceans, mollusks, insects, birds, oysters, shellfish, crabs, crayfish, frogs, rodents, turtles and aquatic invertebrates. read more
By Ethan Shaw; Updated April 24, 2017 The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mustelid -- a member of the weasel family -- native to a large swath of the United States and Canada, as well as northwestern Mexico. read more