The north american river otter is a semi-aquatic and primarily nocturnal member of the weasel family. While they are known for their playful and almost comedic nature, as they are often seen sliding and rolling around, they are actually formidable hunters, preying mostly on fish, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans. Otters once suffered a serious decline and were extirpated from much of their original range nationwide due to habitat loss, pollution and over trapping for the fur trade. Thanks to reintroduction and conservation efforts, including here in Maryland, they have successfully returned in healthy numbers to many areas. Otters are always a treat to observe and we feel fortunate to share with you this brief glimpse of this incredible local species.
