Three Northern River Otters By The Madison River (Lontra canadensis)
Yellowstone National Park in Winter
Wyoming
USA
Three otters were photographed while playing along the banks of a river in the park. It had been snowing earlier in the day. The temperature was between 28 to 34 degrees.
The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur.
The river otter, a member of the subfamily Lutrinae in the weasel family (Mustelidae), is equally versatile in the water and on land. It establishes a burrow close to the water's edge in river, lake, swamp, coastal shoreline, tidal flat, or estuary ecosystems.
North American river otters, like most predators, prey upon the most readily accessible species. Fish is a favored food among the otters, but they also consume various amphibians (such as salamanders and frogs), freshwater clams, mussels, snails, small turtles and crayfish.
The range of the North American river otter has been significantly reduced by habitat loss, beginning with the European colonization of North America. In some regions, though, their population is controlled to allow the trapping and harvesting of otters for their pelts. River otters are very susceptible to the effects of environmental pollution, which is a likely factor in the continued decline of their numbers. Several reintroduction projects have been initiated to help stabilize the reduction in the overall population. – Wikipedia
Three Northern River Otters By The Madison River (Lontra canadensis)
Yellowstone National Park in Winter
Wyoming
USA
Three otters were photographed while playing along the banks of a river in the park. It had been snowing earlier in the day. The temperature was between 28 to 34 degrees.
The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur.
The river otter, a member of the subfamily Lutrinae in the weasel family (Mustelidae), is equally versatile in the water and on land. It establishes a burrow close to the water's edge in river, lake, swamp, coastal shoreline, tidal flat, or estuary ecosystems.
North American river otters, like most predators, prey upon the most readily accessible species. Fish is a favored food among the otters, but they also consume various amphibians (such as salamanders and frogs), freshwater clams, mussels, snails, small turtles and crayfish.
The range of the North American river otter has been significantly reduced by habitat loss, beginning with the European colonization of North America. In some regions, though, their population is controlled to allow the trapping and harvesting of otters for their pelts. River otters are very susceptible to the effects of environmental pollution, which is a likely factor in the continued decline of their numbers. Several reintroduction projects have been initiated to help stabilize the reduction in the overall population. – Wikipedia