Otters

Our otter enclosure is one of the largest in the UK and is home to our Asian Short Clawed and Canadian Otters.

Canadian Otters

Lutra canadensis, the Canadian or North American River Otter could be described as the North American counterpart of the European otter. They do look essentially similar although the Canadian otter overall is much larger than the European variety and also the hairless part of the nose is much larger and more rounded.

Canadian Otters are intelligent, docile, and playful creatures which are often seen "tobogganing" down snowy and muddy slopes. River otters are found throughout Canada, along rivers, lakes and ocean coasts. They are fully adapted for an aquatic existence, are very streamlined and posses webbed feet and a powerful tail.

Historically this otter would range from arctic Alaska to the Southern United States of Florida and Texas, inhabiting lakes, streams, coastal salt marshes and even rocky sea coasts in some areas.   

Asian Short Clawed Otters

This species tends to be found in social groups of approximately 15. Within this group there will be a single breeding pair, as there is often fighting if the group has multiple breeding pairs.

Usually there will be two litters a year, which can result in up to seven pups each (known as kitts), although the usual number of kitts per litter is three.

They are omnivorous land animals eating meat and vegetation, but they are expert swimmers hunting in water to catch their favourite food – fish.

Over the years, their numbers have become threatened as a result of hunting. Otter furs (known as pelts) were very fashionable and fetch high prices. However, thanks to intensive research and conservation, their numbers are starting to recover.