Otter

Otter can be delightful to watch. One of the highlights of my first Alaskan trip was taking a small boat out into the bay and watching a family of otter put on a spontaneous show of water acrobatics for us. Their antics were certainly fun to watch. They are such playful creatures and do so for the sheer enjoyment of it. They've been known to make water slides and use them to slip into the water for hours. They also like to use small stones as balls.

There are about 13 species of otter. Some live in fresh water, like rivers, and others dwell in the sea. River otter live across the United States, except for the desert. Sea otter are on both coasts.They're related to weasels, minks, and martens. On average, otter live to be about 16 years old. Females mate at about two years of age and males at three. The mother, father, and older siblings help care for the pups. These pups are able to leave their den at about one month old, and they can swim around two months old. They stay with their family for around one year.

Characteristics of the otter include a slim body, short legs, and webbed feet with claws. All, except the sea otter, have long tails. A giant sea otter can weigh close to a hundred pounds, but the smallest otter only weighs about two pounds. Of course, most fall between this range. They need to eat 15% of their body weight each day, so they spend much of their time hunting for food. They'll eat things like frogs, crayfish, crabs, and shellfish, but regular fish are their mainstay.

Both river and sea otter have long been hunted and trapped for their fur. They have almost become extinct in places, and some areas have listed them as protected. Sea otter spend most of their time in the water, while other otters spend more time both on land and in the water. If you ever get a chance to watch them play and perform, you'll be in for a treat.

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