With some "old-school" Winter cold embracing the Midwest and Eastern States, thought it appropriate to focus today on our indigenous aquatic weasel, The River Otter.............Superbly adapted to surviving frigid conditions, they do not hibernate, able to stay warm in streams, rivers and ponds............They have water-repellent fur, are able to swim underwater for up to 2 minutes as their nose and ears close up completely............They surface, digging holes through the ice to come up for air and partake in a fish or crayfish meal..............Like the Wolf and Puma, the River Otter occupied much of North America prior to European contact,,,,,,,,,,,,Like the Beaver, it was hunted and trapped with abandon and today occupies the north central and northwestern USA and parts of Canada..................All four of their feet and their tail are webbed, enabling them to go into high gear and attain speeds of up to 7mph while swimming on the surface of their water habitat..................They produce a litter of two to three kits annually each Spring; with a delayed gestation period of 10-11 months--even though the babies only take two to three months to fully develop inside the womb......The mother Otter delays her birth to take advantage of optimum food sources come Winters end.....

https://northernwoodlands.org/knots_and_bolts/otter-holes

Otter Holes

by Mary Holland

Winter 2017

Knots and Bolts

December 12, 2017

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Photo by Mary Holland.

River otters are the most aquatic members of the weasel family. They can swim up to six or seven miles per hour on the surface of the water as well as underneath it, and can remain submerged for up to two minutes. Otters spend a great deal of time fishing under the ice, and obtain oxygen from open holes such as the one pictured (as well as from air pockets under the ice). As their tracks indicate, otters come up onto the ice to eat their prey, be it fish or crayfish, their two favorite winter meals.

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North American River OtterLontra canadensis
Location and Habitat At one time, North American river otters were found  throughout much of the United States  and Canada. Due to habitat loss and fur-trapping  practices, the number of river otters has  declined. River otters now live primarily in the north-central and north-western United States,  and various parts of Canada. North American river otters live in streams, marshes  and back waterways surrounding lakes,  especially the Great Lakes. They are also found in  similar areas near certain parts of the  Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Diet North American river otters are carnivorous, and  feed on a variety of items. Their diets  include fish, crayfish, mollusks, frogs, bird eggs  and sometimes small mammals. Size and Description North American river otters grow to sizes of  2 - 2.5 feet, not including the tail. Tails can  grow to sizes of another 1 - 1.5 feet in length.  The fur on river otters is dark brown,  except for the chin and chest area where it  is a lighter brown or cream color. The fur  is thick and helps to keep otters warm while also repelling water. River otters have long,  tubular bodies that help make them  hydrodynamic. Feet on river otters are highly specialized. All  four feet are webbed helping river otters  propel through the water. They can also use  their front two feet to grab or hold items. River otters have very small ears on their heads,  and have two small eyes. Their muzzle  is short and may also have lighter colored fur. River otters also have long whiskers on  their heads which help them to feel objects in  the water. Adaptations River otters are adapted to living in and near water. Their nostrils and ears will close  completely when they submerge underwater to  look for food. Their webbed feet and  tail will give them propulsion, and they can move their bodies to help them move through  the water as well. All of these adaptations combine to make river otters supreme swimmers in their native habitats. Behaviors River otters are intelligent, playful creatures.  They can be seen sliding down mudbanks  or playing with other otters. In the water, they will sometimes pop their heads up like  periscopes to see what is going on around  them, and then dive back down after a few seconds. Reproduction River otters give birth to two or three young  in early spring. While the entire gestation or  pregnancy period of female river otters is approximately 10 - 11 months, the babies are  only developing inside the mother for a  period of about 2 - 3 months. This process is  called delayed implantation. Other Facts River otters can make a variety of sounds  including whistles and hisses. River otters are now protected in parts of  their range due to their decreased numbers.