Throughout Florida and most of North America. Near rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and marshes. Persecuted as a carnivore. Hunted for pelts. Frogs, crabs, crayfish, fish, other shellfish, occasionally amphibians and birds.
Otters are amphibious members of the weasel family.
The river otter is an excellent swimmer that usually moves slowly at the surface, dog paddling with all four webbed limbs. When swimming fast, the feet, tail and hind end are used together in an up and down motion. The tail provides most of the thrust and the forelimbs are tucked to the chest except when steering. The otter can stay submerged for six to eight minutes and catches fish while swimming. Because of its high metabolic rate, the otter feeds several times each day.