North American River Otters - Ariel and Wednesday
North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) can be found near freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams all across the United States and Canada, including Texas. Usually found living independently or in small family groups, they are recognizable by their long, streamlined bodies, webbed feet, and muscular tails. Their short, dark brown fur can have 50,000 hairs per square centimeter! The hairs are woven together to trap air close to the skin and keep the otter warm underwater. North American river otters are carnivores and may eat fish, crustaceans, shellfish, small mammals, birds, eggs, frogs, and turtles. They can eat up to 20% of their body weight each day! Vocal, playful animals, North American river otters can often be seen scampering and sliding along the shoreline, as well as swimming and wrestling in the water. North American river otters are known as an indicator species, meaning that their presence in a waterway indicates a healthy ecosystem. Since they are sensitive to the effects of pollution, North American river otters are only found in clean, fresh water. Growing human populations and pollution have drastically reduced the size of their territories in many locations.
The Houston Zoo has two female North American river otters. Wednesday, age 14, came to Houston in 2000 from the Kansas City Zoo, and Ariel, age 17 months, came to Houston last July from a rehabilitator in Clearwater, Florida. Wednesday and Ariel can be seen playing, sleeping, and swimming together every day in the John P. McGovern Children’s Zoo. Stop by and visit them during Otterly Mad Week, Sunday, May 30 through Saturday, June 5!
