Throughout a year, an otter may occupy 50 or more miles of a stream. Otters may occupy only a few miles of stream, but often move from one area to another. They use their keen sense of touch to find and catch their underwater target. Their sensitive facial whiskers easily detect moving prey. This is especially useful in the murky water created by the otter searching for victims on muddy lake and stream bottoms.
Otters typically hunt by diving and chasing fish, or by digging in the bottom of ponds and streams.
Although otters are expert divers, hunting is not always successful. Otters catch prey with their mouths and use their forelimbs to hold the prey. They eat their prey head first and discard the fish fins. After eating, they clean their face and whiskers by rubbing them on grass or snow. Litter size varies from one to six, but litters of two or three are most common.