North American River Otter

Description:

Member of weasel family.

Habitat:

The river otter, a member of the weasel family, 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. The den typically has many tunnel openings, one of which generally allows the otter to enter and exit the body of water. Female otters give birth in these underground burrows, producing litters of one to six young.

Notes:

These guys don't have any natural predictors here on the island of Martha's Vineyard. I see them a lot in the back yard pond.