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A DOSSIER ON LUTRA (TSE OTTER)

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SUMARY

Lutra, the otter, is a compact, powerfui, intelligent animal capable of negotiating land, water, and obstacles with great facility. Lutra can'survive in hostile environments such as under ice, in hot water, in raging seas, and even in urban environments. Capable of being easily trained and becomes devoted to humans which sometines leads to its destruction. It can find its own food if. necessary and can make long journeys routineiy. Basic cost of animal moderate (\$75 -\$-50) as.is maintenance. Has.seen used by man as a pet and in the orient for fishing. ∴.

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/An otter is : Phylum : Chordata

Class : Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family : Mustelidae

Genus : Lutra

Species: Many species and sub-species.

There are two animals commonly called the 'otter' - specifically the Sea Otter ( Enhydra lutris ' and the land otter (Lutra). The Sea Otter lives, mostly at sea; is nearly extinct, and differs considerably from the land otters. For this reason our discussion will cover Lutra, the .land otter. \*

There are many species and subspecies of Lutra. Lutra lives all over the world in various forms: They may grcw as larga as small seals.:In general Lutra canadensis is representative of most. otters in 'size, physiology, habits, ete. For this reason the following dossier will but infrequently refer to species and subspecies of Lutra, the River Otter.

\* Some taxonomists consider the Sea Otter to be so different from the Land or River Otter that it is considered to be a Sub-Familv.

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WT IS AN OTTER?

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LOCONOTION - LAND

Can run rapidly on land. In the wild rançes a territory over 50 miles. Will make night excursion of 15 miles. In one case was chased 28 miles by otter-hounds: Can elimb stairs, ladder, and other objects easily. Ability to slide down inclines with ease.

LOCONOTION - WATER

i Must be taught to swim. Can swim 10 mph or faster. Can catch most fish easily. Dives to 60 feet and can stay submerged 4-6 minutes. Enters and leaves boat easily. Can be trained to catch fish. Sleeps floating on back. Will carry large fish (5-lo pounds) through the water.

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ANATONY- PHYSICLOGY

LENGTH - 4-5 feet with 1 foot tail . Some varieties much longer.

WEIchT- 25 pounds. (Sea otter 80 pounds.) Some Central American varieties as large as small: seals.

FEET- Webbed. 5 toes on each foot. claws good for climbing, but not for holding.?ads on toes capable of holding slippery eel.

Tracks: F 2k X 3, 5 ; H 3 X 3.5 (Lutra canadensis)

FUR- - Durability - l00% Guard hairs with soft fur underneath. Outer hair holäs water; surface tension holds them together to provide packing of under-fur to provide.insulation. Some air held in' fur.

DENTITION: c P 413 M 1 d

BODY TEMPERATURE: 38-39°C

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LIFE CYCLE

probably mates for life. Most species breed at any time of years, some in late February. Young born about 60 days later. Litter l- 5 (cubs, kits, pups). Blind for 5 weeks. Weaned in 4 months. Both parents help in rearing animals. Small animals stay with parents one year.

Life span greater than 15 vears.

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FEEDING

Young animals can be bottls fed with same formula used for human babies. Diarrhea controlled by varying sugar and water in formula. Rub animals'gut with moistened finger to simulate licking of mother anixal - this will substitute for peristalsis in young animals.

Wean as soon as possible to fish. Eels particularly good, but any fish will do. Will eat poultry, animal meat, eggs, and other high protein foods. (Other foods, however, do not seem to harm animal:) :

schedule feeding of young once per two hours and train to

go overnight without feeding as .soon as possible - just as

with human baby. Mucus in stool normal:

Animal will catch own food and establish own preferences.

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TRINSPOSTING

Transporting an otter is exceptionally difficult. Animal

xesents restricted quartsrs and vill fight and tear itself

to desċtruction to escape. Tranquilizers are partially

effective.

In like manner, once aninal has enjoyed freedom equal to that.

of dog, it is difficuit to keep it caged.

For transporting it is recoumended that it travel with

owner or else specizl care be taken to train animal to

accept confined.quarters (if possible). As last resort,

rely on medication ( tranquilizers anesthesia ).

No matter how brutal transporting can ke (and other ways

man inflicts pain on the otter) it never seems to resent

this 'treatment.

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GENERAL SEHAVIOR

SLEEPING: Usually sleeps on back with 'arms' folded. Likes to sleep with humsns. Will sleep all night although in the wild it can be nocturnal.

MANCAL AND ORAL DEXTERITY: Can opEn zipper, climb ladder. chew through zinc sheet, turn on water tap, carry stones and marbles - also larger objects, throw objects with head (£rom mouth), hold slippery objects, carry objects in 'arns'while swimming - also in mouth, will cover himself..

SWIMING: Must learn to swim at early age. Has initial . fear of water which must be overcome.

FEARS: Seems to show no interest and/or fear of cities, other animals (except very large birds such as eagles). jet (and other) aircraft, railroad stations, crowds or people, etc. will fear water if not trained to it.

vOICe: Ranges from chixps to aspirations, sighs, "Hah". and a wail (fron whimpering to rage).

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1. Never take away food fsosotter - particularly that which he has just caught,or suffer severe mauling-

2. Never,if possible,confine. (or leave in zoo or kennel) an otter which has enjoyed any human companionship or freeJom.

3. Otters are very' sensitive. to some drugs which might be found in pesticides.

4. Do not panic when animal is in rough water, mountainous weves, or under ice.

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MISCLLANEOUS  DO'S AND DONT'S

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INCIDENTAL (BUT CRITICAL AND USEFUL) INFORNATION

1. Has excellent sensa of direction; can find air-holes under ice easily.

2. All otters are automatically housebroken.

3. Otters have no natural fear of man when young. , tae do ma

4. Has a tendency to 'ritualize' benaviu - animals) . For example, scme will chew 5 crunches on the left side of the mouth, then 5 crunches on the right, on and on; will roll ball up and cown stomach exactly the same way over and over again; Will rap.. door repetitive pattern; etc. repetitive patle.., a care to bathe

5. Can survive water hottar than human would care to bathe “ in. in. LA Aietract

6. Is very ticklish around the ribs (good way to distract

stubborn ull- 2 ie 7. Has good time sense (e.g. will wake up exactly at a certain time each morning). certain .:ie nr no odor.

8. Excrement (called 'spraint') has little or no odor. - -hark in city and 2) tc

9. Harness desireable'l) to keep in check an -s identify animal to hunters as being tame (in forest). (Special harncss required - see page  describing it).

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AN OTTER HARHESS

Every otter should have a harness so that it can be better
handlad in the urban environment and so that it can be identified as & pet in the country environnent (by hunters and others). The' otter is lanky with a small head. For this reason a special harness must be built. Because the animal slides. a lot, a
'breast-plate' is necessary. The design below was worked out by Maxwell. In only one case did he ever suspect that his animal became 'hung up' by his harness while roaming the countryside. Note that the straps are sufficiently tight allow some of the guazd hairs to pass over it which reduces the chance of it :
being caught on objects.

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MAXWELL OTTER HARNESS (LEATHER)

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Maxwell, G., Ring of Bricht Water. E.P. Dutton, Inc., New York: 1961

Palner, E.L., Fieldbook of Natural Ristorv. McGraw-Hill, New York: 1949

Lane, F.W., Nature Parade. Fawcett Publications, Greenwich, Conn.: 1954

o'shea, M.v. (Ed.). The World gook Enevclopedia. W.F. Quarries Co. :Chicago, lszo.

Young, J.z.. The Life of Vertebrates Oxford University Press, London :. i950.

Parre, R. Seal Morning, Rinehart & Co., New York : l957.

Spector, W.s. (Ed.), Handbook'of siolocical Data. wADc Report 56-273.ASTIA Docuent·No. AD 110501.

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SELECTED REFERENCES