The North American River Otter Husbandry Handbook of 2008 said otters mostly copulate in the water. In 1977, the North American river otter was listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in the Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Around 50,000 North American River Otters are killed each year by legal trapping throughout the USA and Canada (CITES Trade Database, 2013). River otter population status, distribution, and habitat use in northwestern Montana. The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. North America. M.S. modelled after mm stranding programs. Activity Patterns, Behaviors, and Population Status of the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) on Martha’s Vineyard, MA Masters Thesis, Antioch New England University Elizabeth Baldwin, Jon Atwood, and Luanne Johnson The North American river otter is a high trophic level piscivore found in coastal and River otter management zones have been consolidated into a northern and southern zone for the 2018-2019 season. When an otter needs to … 1990. The river otter is Minnesota's largest aquatic carnivore that lives in most northern Minnesota lakes, ponds, and streams. North American river otters are found throughout the United States and Canada. The Wisconsin Dronkert-Egnew, A. E. 1991. Carcass recovery. It is believed that the North American River Otter population is stable (IUCN Red List) but without proper monitoring of populations and 50,000 trapped annually this is largely unknown. Severe declines in the 1800’s from unregulated fur harvest and habitat destruction extirpated or severely reduced Sea otters inhabit coastal areas and islands of the eastern and western North Pacific Ocean. It makes its home in a burrow near the water's edge, and can thrive in river, lake, swamp, or estuary ecosystems. The story of the resurgence of river otters in North America is one of the greatest success stories of modern wildlife conservation. A general litter of otters is two to three pups. The species occurs broadly across much of North America and is considered reasonably secure overall. The fur on their backs is generally dark brown, and their undersides vary from light brown to gray. Alaska sea otters inhabit the coast of Alaska, including the Aleutian … River otter population status and habitat use in northwestern Montana. Dronkert-Egnew, A. Prior to 1900, degradation of water quality and habitat, human encroachment, and unregulated harvest led to a 75 percent decline in North American otter populations. River otter Lontra canadensis populations in the United States have expanded during the past 50 y as a result of improvements in habitat quality and effective management programs implemented by state and federal agencies and native tribes. 43 report / 32 necropsy. beaver trappers regarding otter population status, results in considerable uncertainty about recent otter population trends in the state. It can swim and maneuver better than many fish, and swims with only the top of its head out of the water. Some individuals may … 14 discussed today. River otters are known to inhabit areas in Florida, especially throughout the Everglades. Indian River Lagoon Otter Program. 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