The North American river otter is considered a medium to large sized otter, with adults ranging in length from 3 to 5 feet and weighing between 10 and 30 pounds. North American river otter, Lontra canadensis, in captivity. Boomer, a North American river otter, was born in January 2018 and was transferred to CMA on October 15, 2018, from another animal care facility. Boomer came to CMA to be a social partner for Walle, a rescued and non-releasable otter, who was residing by himself at that time. Lontra canadensis. 14 thoughts on “ Northern River Otter vs. American Mink ” Steve L. May 25, 2008 at 7:30 pm. General facts about North American River Otter. Lontra (American river otters) Species: Lontra canadensis (North American river otter) Life Span: 8 – 9 years (wild) / ~21 years (zoo) Size: 2.6 – 4.3 feet (0.8 – 1.3 m) Height: 11.8 – 19.9 inches (30 – 51 cm) Weight: 11 – 31 pounds (5 – 14 kg) Fun Facts. Here in Oregon that critter is an otter. A river otter… Size: Adults can weigh between 11 and 30 lbs. Lifespan: In captivity they can live up to 21 years, and in the wild 8-9 years Diet: Carnivorous Fish are the primary part of their diet Males tend to be 5% larger than females. Talk about spreading out! The North American River Otter is very streamlined, having a muscular body with short legs, webbed toes and a long muscular tail. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family.While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft).Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. River otters eat a variety of fish and shellfish, as well as small land mammals and birds. Origin: North America Found in and along waterways and coasts. Size : Total length: 35½ to 53 inches; weight: 10–30 pounds. The fur on their backs is generally dark brown, and their undersides vary from light brown to gray. Learn the basics of river otter tracks and sign in this article, so you can track them in the wild. By the early 1900s, river otters had declined throughout large portions of their historic range in North America. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) became one of the major animals hunted and trapped for fur in North America after European contact. The North American River Otter is considered to be Least Concern as it is not currently declining at a rate sufficient for a threat category. They grow to one meter (3 to 4 ft) in length and weigh from five to 15 kilograms (10 to 30 lb). 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