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A DOSSIER ON LUTRA (THE OTTER)

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SUMARY

Lutra, the otter, is a compact, powerful, 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 sometimes leads to its destruction. It can find its own food if necessary and can make long journeys routinely. Basic cost of animal moderate (\$75 -\$l50) as-is maintenance. Eas-been 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 grow as large as small seals.:In general Lutra canadensis is representative of most.. otters in size, physiology, habits, etc. 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.

WAT IS AN OTTER?

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LOCOMOTION - LAND

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

LOCOMOTION - WATER

Must be taught to swin. Can swim l0 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 (5-10 pounds) through the water.

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ANATOMY - PHYSICLOGY

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

WEIGHT - 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.Pads 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 holds water; surface tension holds them together to provide packing of under-fur to provide insulation. Some air held in' fur.

DENTITION: C 11 8 p 413 M 12

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 1- 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 years.

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FEEDING

Young animals can be bottle 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 animal - 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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TRANSPORTING

Transporting an otter is excaptionally difficult. Animal resents restricted quarters and will fight and tear itself to desċtruction to escape. Trançuilizers are partially effective.

In like manner, once animal has enjoyed freedom equal to that of dog, it is difficuit to keep it caged.

For transporting it is recommended that it travel with owner or else special care be taken to train animal to accept confined.quarters (if possibie). As last resort, rely on medication ( tranquilizers /"anesthesia ).

No matter how brutal transporting can be (and other ways man inflicts pain on the otter) it never seems to resent this treatment.

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GENERAL BEHAVIOR

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

MANUAL 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 (from mouth), hold slippery objects, carry objects in 'arms'while swimming - also in mouth, will cover himself. ntne …..

SWIMMING: 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 of people, etc. Will fear water if not trained to it.

VOICE: Ranges from chirps to aspirations, sighs, "Hah", and a wail (from whimpering to rage).

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1. Never take away food froa otter - particularly that which he has just caught,cr suffer severe mauling.

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

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 waves, or under ice.

MISCLLANEOUS DO'S AND DONT'S

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l. Has excellent sense 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.

4. Has a tendency to 'ritualize' behavior (as do many animals) . For example, some will chew 5 crunches or the left side of the mouth, then 5 crunches on the right, on and on; Will roll ball up and down stomach exactly the same way over and over again; Will rap.. door repetitive pattern; etc..

5. Can survive water hotter than human would care to bathe in.

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

7. Has good time sense (e.g. will wake up exactly at a certain time each morning).

8. Excrement (called 'spraint') has little or no odor.

9. Harness desireable 1) to keep in check in city and 2) to identify animal to hunters as being tame (in forest). (Special harness required - see page describing it).

INCIDENTAL (BUT CRITICAL AND USEFUL) INFORMATION

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AN OTTER HARNESS

Every otter should have a harness so that it can be better handled in the urban environment and so that it can be identified as a pet in the country environment (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 quard 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 Historv. McGraw-Hill, New York: 1949

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

O'Shea, M.V. (Ed.), The World Book Encvclopedia. W.F. Quarries Co. :Chicago, is28.

Young, J.Z., The Life of Vertebrates Oxford University Press, Lonãon : i950.

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

Spector, W.S. (Ed.), Handbcok'of Biological Data. WADC Report 56-273.ASTIA Docutent -No. AD 110501.

SELECTED REFERENCES