Aboard the St. Peter, Steller and other 18th-century explorers crash-landed on modern-day Bering Island after getting separated from its sister ship. They are not "wonderful animals," as Ms. Deschanel would have you believe. The elusive otter is one of our top predators, feeding mainly on fish (particularly eels and salmonids), waterbirds, amphibians and crustaceans. Most otters have sharp claws at the end of each toe, which helps them to grab prey. Jaymi Heimbuch is a writer and photographer specializing in wildlife conservation, technology, and food. The charismatic otter, a member of the weasel family, is found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Additionally, the disturbing behavior of mating with other species can impact conservation efforts and public perception of these animals, further highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing this behavior. Unmasking the Dark Side of Otters: Surprising and Disturbing Facts, What Do Sea Grapes Taste Like? For years, questions about sea otters' alleged propensity toward cross-species sexual violence have passed through Snopes' inbox. Otters are very social creatures. I've discovered it improves your ability to focus, it's more calming, you retain more information, and it gives you a more balanced and nuanced view of the world." #16. How this animal can survive is a mystery. These otters have brown-to-gray fur, and their undersides are a lighter, silvery . Sea Otter Savvy. 21 Disturbing Facts You Never Wanted To Know About Animals By Mark Hand September 8, 2017 Nature can be beautiful, but sometimes if you take a moment to scratch just below the surface what you'll find might disgust you. No permit is necessary; however . River otters are especially playful, gamboling on land and splashing into rivers and streams. Weve mentioned these species worst behaviors, but did you know that there have been numerous reports of otters harming humans that they come in contact with? These efforts are necessary so that we can ensure this species can continue to flourish despite outside threats they face due to over-harvesting and human interference. This air has the sometimes undesirable side effect of making them highly buoyant. Otter Facts for Kids That makes it about a thousand times more dense than human hair. The male of this species tends to be larger than the females. They rely on all that fur to trap a layer of air against the surface of their skin, and their fur is perfectly designed to do so because it's dense and spiky. Sea Otters as Keystone Species | A World Unseen: the diversity of life Every animal on Earth (including humans) has learned to adapt to its environment, which means sometimes having to make difficult (or gross) choices to survive. Or, she might rely on human resources and otter ingenuity to find a makeshift "playpen" for her pup. While otters appear to be friendly and docile, they can become extremely aggressive when defending their territory or their younglings. Obviously, one report does not mean that all species members will do this, but its still worth noting. Carnivore. Legend has it they save human lives on occasion: But there comes a point at which rational people have to put adorable hijinks aside and recognize otters for what they are: disease-ridden, murderous, necrophilic aqua-weasels whose treachery knows few bounds. International Otter Survival Fund. Theres no doubt that otters are cute animals. Otters have as many as 2.6 million hairs per square inch. Uniquely Koala: 13 Weird Facts about Koalas The Koala Mom A river otter has an average weight of 20 pounds and is 4 feet long, while a sea otter weighs 70-80 pounds and is 6 feet long. Stephens, Tim. Baby otters, called pups or kittens, stay with their mothers until theyre up to a year old, or until she has another litter. River otter | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife As this is a new development in biology, further research is needed to determine precisely how this species started to host the virus. Introduction to Otters - BioExpedition Young pups are born helpless, and remain in the . The aquarium staff had previously tried raising pups themselves but found that hand-raised otters became too attached to humans to be released back into the wild. The lifespan varies depending on the species and region. They can also dive up to 300 feet in search of food. Spraint composition is unique to each otter, and the creatures can identify each other by the smells. Male otters, known as dogs, have been observed biting the females nose during copulation to keep her in place. Heres how paradise fought back. If a male is too aggressive during the mate (which he usually is), the female will drown below the surface. 15 Fascinating Facts About Otters Female otters are sows, and males are boars. Do not reproduce without permission. In Alaska's Aleutian Islands, the species has seen a marked decline since the 1980s. In the past, observers have usually set up telescopes on shore to try and monitor otters at sea. Among the most notable calls: a "hum gradation" used to tell otters to change directions and a "Hah!" The male forced the pup under water as if trying to drown it. Only the North American River Otter has been classified as having a stable population . 1. 2. On top of that, pups have 11 of their own calls that they intersperse with "infant babbling." While these modifications are essential for otter survival, they can have negative consequences for other species that rely on the same habitat. 1 The only places without endemic otters are Australia and Antarctica. Unfortunately, it gets worse. Survival of the fittest is a tale as old as time. 50 Irresistible Otter Facts That You Never Knew About - Facts.net . Oh, sure they do. This means you cant distinguish between healthy and infected otters, making them even more dangerous. Community outreach can also be an invaluable resource when it comes to engaging people around meaningful conversation efforts for threatened species like otters. The otter has a lithe and slender body with short legs, a strong neck, and a long flattened tail that helps propel the animal gracefully through water. Others believe that this behavior may be a result of human disturbances to sea otter populations, which can cause stress and impact their social behavior. Otter groups are called a family, bevy, lodge, or a romp. As a sometimes aquatic creature, it shouldn't be a surprise that otters can swim up to seven miles per hour and dive down 60 feet. Otters have a communal latrine area. A sea otter will float on its back, place a rock on its chest, then smash the mollusk down on it until it breaks open. It may be tempting to try and pet the cute and. Here are 13 weird or interesting facts about koalas to make you love them even more. With their furry faces and charming personalities, they have captured the hearts of many. They communicate with each other using a variety of vocalizations, including whistles, growls, and chirps. In one prior report on breeding-associated mortality, a tagged territorial male sea otter held a struggling female underwater until her body became limp and then copulated repeatedly with her carcass.