Boo & Sam were born in late February 2004 in Slidell, Louisanna. They are both males and are unrelated.

We picked them up when they were 6 weeks old and bottle raised them. We had to introduce them to water (in the bathtub!) and when they were 11 weeks old they learned to swim. Now they love the water.

Our otters seem to have 2 speeds, wide awake (crazy & playful), and fast asleep. They get a commercially prepared zoo diet, but we give them occasional treats such as cooked shrimp, sardines, hotdogs, and even marshmallows.

We change their toys daily so they do not get bored, and hopefully in the future we will add a third female otter to this group. In the wild otters generally live 8-10 years, but in captivity they have been known to go almost 20 years. We hope our babies will be here at the park for a long, long, time.

NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER “Lutra canadensis”

SIZE
Up to 4ft. long and 35lbs.

HOME RANGE
20 Miles.

FOOD
Fish, Crustaceans, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Insects.

HABITAT
Lakes, Streams and Coastal Marshes.

ABOUT
North American river otters are powerful and graceful swimmers known for their playfulness. They were once found from Alaska to Florida. Native Americans hunted otters largely for their dense fur which enabled them to keep warm. European settlers also hunted them for fur and developed the land, cutting down forests and habitats. By the 1980s, eleven states reported no otter population and 13 other states reported scarce numbers.

River otters grow to 35 pounds and 4 feet long. They have special adaptations to help them swim under water, including ears and eyes that close to seal out the water, webbed feet and the ability to hold their breath for 3 to 4 minutes under water.

Otters communicate by chirping, chattering, and chuckling. They have a hair raising scream they use when frightened. It can be heard from 2 miles away.

Male and female otters are ready for reproduction at about 2 years of age. A female otter is pregnant for 10 to 12 months, with a litter of 1 to 4.

Young otters are helpless at birth and do not open their eyes until they are 3 weeks old. When they are about 8 weeks old, they leave the den and are introduced to the water. The female cares for the young otters and teaches them to swim, catch prey, and look for food. Young otters can care for themselves in about 5 to 6 months, but the family often stays together until the birth of a new litter.

NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER “Lutra canadensis”

SIZE Up to 4ft. long and 35lbs.

HOME RANGE 20 Miles.

FOOD Fish, Crustaceans, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Insects.