November 27, 2023 By Katie Roundtree

River otters are mainly found in freshwater ponds, streams, canals, and marshes everywhere in Florida, except the Keys.  These charismatic mammals are a member of the weasel family and are comfortable both in and out of the water. Otters grow to about 40 inches, weighing between 10 – 30 pounds.  They have short legs, elongated bodies, webbed feet and a strong, flattened tail, which acts like a rudder in the water.  Their nostrils and ears close to keep water out, and waterproof fur keeps them warm.  Otters have the densest coat of any animal—as many as a million hairs per square inch in places.  Because of this, otters were once hunted to near extinction for their fur.  Their colors range from light brown to dark, rich brown.  They are strong swimmers and can swim about 6-8 miles per hour, holding their breath for up to eight minutes.  On land, however, they can run up to 15 miles per hour.

Otters spend much time on land, often traveling considerable distances between waterways.  Most otters have at least one permanent burrow (den) by water.  The burrow’s main entrance may be underwater.  It then slopes upward to a nest chamber above the high-water level.  The burrows are built in the bank of a water body, often under tree roots.  They dig their own burrow or repurpose an abandoned beaver den.  Otters give birth in early spring to anywhere from one to five babies.  Baby otters, called pups or kits, stay with their mothers until they’re up to a year old or until she has another litter.  Babies learn to swim when they are about two months old when their mother introduces them to the water.  Otters are natural swimmers and learn to swim quickly.

Active mainly at night, otters are excellent hunters.  Their diet consists primarily of fish, amphibians, insects and crustaceans. Their powerful teeth and jaws are made for catching and gripping onto slippery fish.  An otter’s bite is approximately 615 pounds per square inch compared to the average person’s bite force of around 162 pounds per square inch.  Their bite is comparable to a German Shepherd’s bite!  River otters can easily chew through the tough skin of armored catfish found in our area and eat the flesh underneath.

As cute as they are, otters are wild animals and should be left alone.  Please do not feed them and give them their space.  They can be feisty and attack if threatened.  River otters can occasionally create a nuisance by eating fish in hatcheries and stocked ponds or digging dens in pond banks.  Keep stocked ponds covered or fenced to prevent otters from entering ponds.

Enjoy these native animals from afar.  They are fun to watch and known for their antics in and around the water.  However, please do not approach them or try to pet them.  They are far more likely to avoid humans than confront them.  Otters are apex predators and are wild creatures- cute but certainly not cuddly.