Young otters grow quickly, and when they are about 60 days old, they venture from the den and are introduced to the water. The females are devoted parents, teaching the young to swim and even catching and releasing prey to improve the young otters' foraging skills. Adult male otters are not known to participate in caring for the young. Young otters can care for themselves in about five or six months, but the family usually stays together for at least two months longer, often until the birth of a new litter. Although dispersal of young is quite variable, it generally occurs at about 12 to 13 months of age.
Food Fish make up the greatest portion of the otter's diet.
Crayfish are also an important food when available. Other foods include amphibians, insects, mammals and birds. Foods and foraging techniques vary in different areas and at different times of the year. In clear water, otters use their excellent swimming ability to capture fish by sight and direct pursuit. In murky water, they use their whiskers to locate prey.