..... that baby otters have to be taught how to swim?
From: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/american-river-otter
Map
North American River Otter RangeFast Facts
- Type:
- Mammal
- Diet:
- Carnivore
- Average life span in the wild:
- 8 to 9 years
- Size:
- Head and body, 21.75 to 31.5 in (55 to 80 cm); tail, 11.75 to 19.75 in (30 to 50 cm)
- Weight:
- 11 to 30 lbs (5 to 14 kg)
- Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:
-
The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the
water and on land. It makes its home in a burrow near the water's edge,
and can thrive in river, lake, swamp, or estuary ecosystems. Otter
abodes feature numerous tunnels—one of which usually allows them to come
and go from the water.
These otters swim by propelling themselves with their powerful tails and flexing their long bodies. They also have webbed feet, water repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. They remain active in winter, using ice holes to surface and breathe. They can hold their breath underwater for some eight minutes.
River otters, members of the weasel family, hunt at night and feed on whatever might be available. Fish are a favorite food, but they also eat amphibians, turtles, and crayfish.
On land, river otters can bound and run quite well, if not quite as effectively as they swim. They love to playfully slide down snow-covered, icy, or muddy hills—often ending with a splash in the water. Otter families of mother and children can be seen enjoying such fun, which also teaches survival skills.
Males do not help raise young otters. Females retreat to their underground dens to deliver litters of one to six young. When the young are only about two months old, they get an advanced swimming lesson—their mother pushes them into the water. Otters are natural swimmers and, with parental supervision, they soon get the hang of it.
These otters' range has been greatly reduced by habitat loss, though they exist in such numbers that they are trapped in some locales. Otters are also very sensitive to environmental pollution.
These otters swim by propelling themselves with their powerful tails and flexing their long bodies. They also have webbed feet, water repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. They remain active in winter, using ice holes to surface and breathe. They can hold their breath underwater for some eight minutes.
River otters, members of the weasel family, hunt at night and feed on whatever might be available. Fish are a favorite food, but they also eat amphibians, turtles, and crayfish.
On land, river otters can bound and run quite well, if not quite as effectively as they swim. They love to playfully slide down snow-covered, icy, or muddy hills—often ending with a splash in the water. Otter families of mother and children can be seen enjoying such fun, which also teaches survival skills.
Males do not help raise young otters. Females retreat to their underground dens to deliver litters of one to six young. When the young are only about two months old, they get an advanced swimming lesson—their mother pushes them into the water. Otters are natural swimmers and, with parental supervision, they soon get the hang of it.
These otters' range has been greatly reduced by habitat loss, though they exist in such numbers that they are trapped in some locales. Otters are also very sensitive to environmental pollution.
MOM!! Stop trying to drown me and just bring me another fish!
ReplyDeleteTerry
Fla
LOL - Maybe I can find an otter to teach me how to swim - I never learned - but I can fish! :o)
DeleteYes. We have a lot of river otters here. They are interesting to watch, we often see them while kayaking or fishing.
ReplyDeleteI learned to swim early as we spent so much time around or on the water as kids.
Never saw an otter, but have seen beavers. I'm not afraid of the water (we always had boats) but could never get the hang of it!
ReplyDeleteBeaver are cool too. The Cowman didn't like them, we spent a lot of time one summer keeping them from plugging the high line irrigation ditches.
ReplyDeleteI guess that why they made hats out of 'em! LOL :o)
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