The river otter (Lutra canadensis) is an amphibious member of the weasel family, a cousin to the mink and sea otter. River otter populations are found across much of the state of Georgia, living near lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers and streams. Adult river otters can reach three to five feet in length and have thick, dark brown fur, webbed feet and long, flat tails. They are excellent swimmers and are able to stay underwater for up to eight minutes at a time. A distinctive behavior of river otters is the making of “scent posts”: piles of water-logged leaves, sticks, or aquatic plants, marked with feces and urine. The otters apparently make these posts to alert other otters to their presence in the area, although they are playful, non-aggressive animals and do not defend their territories.
River otters are carnivores, eating various crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, birds and insects, but their preferred meal is fish. Otters hunt by diving and chasing fish or digging in the bottom of ponds and streams. The presence of river otters does not negatively affect the quality or quantity of sport fish populations; in fact, the otters may contribute to a healthy fish population by culling out the weak and sick fish.
