North American River Otters
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 will only be found in clean, fresh water.
Join the Houston Zoo as we unite with zoos across the country to celebrate Otterly Mad Week, Sunday, May 30 through Saturday, June 5.
North American River Otter
North American river otters 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.
Join the Houston Zoo as we unite with zoos across the country to celebrate Otterly Mad Week, Sunday, May 30 through Saturday, June 5.
North American River Otters
Otters are not born knowing how to swim, but must be taught how by their mothers.
Join the Houston Zoo as we unite with zoos across the country to celebrate Otterly Mad Week, Sunday, May 30 through Saturday, June 5.
North American River Otters
Otters have a very fast metabolism and need to eat frequently to keep up their strength. They can eat up to 20% of their body weight each day!
Join the Houston Zoo as we unite with zoos across the country to celebrate Otterly Mad Week, Sunday, May 30 through Saturday, June 5.
Otters in the wild spend 40-60% of their day foraging for food. They are carnivores and may eat fish, crustaceans, shellfish, small mammals, birds, eggs, frogs, and turtles.
Join the Houston Zoo as we unite with zoos across the country to celebrate Otterly Mad Week, Sunday, May 30 through Saturday, June 5.
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!
They’re cute, they’re playful, and they’re found all over the world, including right here in Texas.
So what are they?
They’re otters!
Join the Houston Zoo as we unite with zoos across the country to celebrate Otterly Mad Week, Sunday, May 30 through Saturday, June 5.
Started last year by the International Otter Survival Fund, Otterly Mad Week aims to educate people around the world about otters and their importance in the environment. There are 13 different species of otters in the world, and two of them – the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) and the Asian Small-Clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus) – can be found at the Houston Zoo!
Wednesday our North American River Otter
During Otterly Mad Week, the Houston Zoo is showcasing both of our adorable otter species by offering our guests special opportunities to meet the otter keepers and ask questions and to hear otter-themed stories. If you’ve ever wondered how fast an otter can swim or what types of toys an otter likes, come watch an otter training or enrichment session and find out! On Sunday, May 30 and Saturday, June 5, stop by the otter conservation table and put your creativity to work in decorating an otter-themed craft. By donating to otter conservation, you can also enter to win an original painting done by one of our otters or a behind-the-scenes tour to see where our otters call home. For anyone who loves otters, Otterly Mad Week is the perfect time to visit the Houston Zoo!
Check out www.otter.org for more otter information!
