It was otter scat. Piles and piles of fish scales lay around the den entrance. The river otter is a fish predator. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). RIVER OTTER DEN AND SCAT. I was with a state wildlife official, who showed me piles of crayfish shells on rocks in the river.
Look for otter scat on raised areas near water, especially the shortest distance between two water bodies or on peninsulas. However, little information exists on biases that may be associated with frequency of occurrence analyses for river otter diets derived from scat samples. River otters regularly use latrine sites where they deposit scat, urinate, scent mark and groom.
This behavior is one reason river otter are called “playful.” SCAT. We receive no government funding, and depend solely on financial support from our friends.
An adult North American river otter can … They remain elusive, rarely seen and unpredictable. Another common scat occurs when otters dine primarily on frogs. 2009). The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. 12/31/2018 0 Comments North American river otter Lontra canadensis swimming in a dirty pond in Walton County, GA. River otter Lontra canadensis River otter scat is cylindrical about 2 to 6 inches and about 0.5 inches in diameter. Of course, you shouldn't dig, like the photogenic snail above, into a scat that is fresh and moist. December 2018. Trout Lake is historically the most reliable spot to see otters in the park, but the best time is generally in early summer, not spring. ... who showed me piles of crayfish shells on rocks in the river. Usually around mid-June visitors begin to see otters at the lake with relative frequency. River Otter Scat. Any naturalist worth his or her salt won’t shy away at the sight of an animal’s droppings. to Otter Scats. The river otter is a predator of fish and amphibians and scales can be found in its droppings. Wait for the rain to wash and the sun to bake the scat into a collection of the bones, shell bits, and fish scales from the otter's meal. The river otter often defecates in the same area to mark its territory, where evidence of fish scales and crayfish exoskeleton and ... otter: Not surprisingly, otter scat can be found near waterways. river otter; scat; Related Articles. The river otter is a predator of fish and amphibians and is sometimes trapped for its fur pelt. Every spring when I visit Yellowstone, it's a tradition to hike to Trout Lake to search for river otters. It is found in and along the waterways and coasts of the United States. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. A river otter does its “scat dance” along the Green River in Kent, Washington. Their scat may have no significant shape but is identified by the presence of fish bones, It is usually found on the ground, but occasionally on logs and at the intersection of two streams. Crait & Ben-David 2006, Roberts et al. Advertisement. Otter can produce distinctive droppings that contain large amounts of fish scales and bones, crayfish shells and even rodent hairs. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. Our organization is not affiliated with any other otter-related research group or community outreach organization. Tweet . Naturally Curious is supported by donations. But river otters still hold their mystique. River otter are active at almost any time of the day, but tend to be most active at night. Because fish make up a large part of their diet, North American River Otters live along streams, lakes and wetlands.
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