River Otter - Lutra canadensis
Habitat	Otters prefer areas which have thick woods adjoining rivers, lakes, or swamps. Dens are excavated under rocks or logs and are lined with grass or leaves.
Ecological Niche	An otter is basically a consumer of aquatic life. They eat small fish, crayfish, frogs, insects, invertebrates, and even ducks. They occasionally eat mice, eggs, and insects on short trips on dry land.
Life Cycle	One to four hairless and blind young are born in the spring. They begin to play at 5 to 6 weeks and venture from the den at 10 to 12 weeks. The young can stay near their parents for up to two years. They can live to about 15 years of age.
Behavior and physical adaptations	Otters have webbed feet, a long slender body and tail, and small ears so their body is streamlined and aids them in swimming. They are sociable but shy animals. Otters have an extremely large home range of about 15 square miles. Though they are more active in the morning and evening, they may be active any time of day.