General Information

North American river otters live throughout the United States and Canada. They make their homes in dens constructed from the burrows of other animals or hollow logs. These dens are usually in secluded areas adjacent to waterways. River otters are native to Ohio, but they were extirpated from the state in the early 1900s due to poor water quality. Throughout the 20th century, Ohio waterways started to bounce back. In 1986, the Division of Wildlife decided to reintroduce otters to the state. It released 123 otters from Louisiana and Arkansas (where populations are abundant) into four waterways in Ohio. This reintroduction project has been a success, and otter populations in the state continue to increase. In 2012 there were approximately 8,000 otters in Ohio.

Meet Our River Otters

Three North American river otters, Calvin, Atticus, and Emmett, live in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden —Presented by KeyBank at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Average Lifespan

Wild: 8–9 years
Captivity: 15–20 years

Fun Facts

• North American river otters are adapted for swimming. They have excellent cardiovascular and respiratory systems that allow them to stay underwater for up to four minutes at a time. They have a thick, waterproof layer of skin under two layers of fur to help keep them warm in all seasons. In addition, they can close their ears and nostrils to keep water out. A clear third eyelid called a nictitating membrane protects their eyes underwater.
• Their whiskers detect vibrations and movement in the environment, helping them hunt prey underwater.
• Although North American river otters are well adapted to life in water, they actually spend two-thirds of their time on land.
• A North American river otter's diet consists mainly of fish, but they will also eat various reptile and amphibian species as well as small mammals and birds.