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Project Noah Nature School
Lontra canadensis
This heavily-furred semi-aquatic member of the weasel family as an adult will weight 5 to 14 kg (11 to 31 lbs.) and is about 66 to 107 cm (26 to 42 in) in length. The fur is waterproof and predominately brown.
The range of this animal stretches across North America. Heavily trapped for their luxurious fur, their range has been restricted although populations are now expanding outward in many areas. For instance, we now have otters in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of Minnesota, especially along the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers.They tend to feed on fish, but are opportunistic and will also eat amphibians, reptiles, and occasionally small mammals and birds.
This particular otter was living near a resort in Voyageurs National Park on the Minnesota/Ontario border. It was feeding on fish remains thrown out by anglers. In the third photo the otter is lounging about stretched out on its back with its stomach bulging from its last meal. Life is easy for this otter!
Spotted on Jul 28, 2012
Submitted on Aug 3, 2012
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