disturbing facts about otters
Sea otters don't just have the densest fur of all ottersthey have the densest fur of all animals. Otters have small, rounded ears, and long sensitive whiskers to help them feel the vibrations of their prey. They also sometimes intertwine their feet with another sea otter, so that they stay together. Playfulness does disappear, though, when food is scarce. While this predatory behavior is a natural part of their existence, it can sometimes have detrimental effects on their ecosystems. 15 Fascinating Facts About Otters STDs are at a shocking high. They get their needed water and sustenance from eating eucalyptus leaves. For starters, male sea otters have been known to assault and even kill seal pups. Even if you find them otherwise adorable, otters' mating habits will no doubt make your stomach turn. Additionally, some fish species may prey on their younglings. River otters have webbing between their toes to aid them as well. They love to chow down! Sea Otters Eat 25 Percent of Their Body Weight Every Day. Interestingly, they have been known to engage in communal living, particularly in areas with abundant food sources. Otters have their cubs in underground burrows, known as 'holts'. Mating with other species is an unusual and disturbing behavior observed in some otters, particularly sea otters. When he's not writing or reading, Aleksandar can be found exploring the great outdoors with his trusty dog as a companion. How Stuff Works. However, otters may take their diet a bit too far because. For years, questions about sea otters' alleged propensity toward cross-species sexual violence have passed through Snopes' inbox. They're merciless hellspawn who use their intellects for great evil. If you thought that otters, like beavers, eat a plant-based diet, you are mistaken. Meanest Animals in the World (Disturbing Facts) - UrduFOX 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. Furthermore, they are also threatened by poaching and overfishing. Female otters have a disproportionately higher mortality rate than males, and experts attribute this to their gruesome mating ritual. One of the most efficient ways to reach a wide audience is through virtual resources such as webinars or interactive quizzes. If weve learned anything until this point, otters are eviler than they seem. Please be respectful of copyright. Advertisement. In addition to re-introduction programs, other measures are also taken by conservationists such as habitat protection, awareness campaigns targeting local communities about how their activities target or affect the animals populations, monitoring and control over toxins released into water bodies with where otters live or breed and enforcement of laws against hunting or poaching. Wisconsin River Otters As avid animal lovers, our goal is to use our knowledge and passion to deliver accurate and reliable information about various topics related to wild animals. Otters sometimes take up residence in abandoned beaver lodges or muskrat dens. These furry creatures eat meat, such as fish, frogs, birds, and even mammals. "Energy Demands of Raising a Pup Push Sea Otter Moms to the Limit." Additionally, they can host parasites such as lungworms, which can infect domestic dogs and lead to respiratory issues. We thought we knew turtles. No, they are wild animals and should not be kept as pets. Lutrinae contains seven genuses and 12 different species, spanning every continent save Australia and Antarctica; a 13th species, the Japanese river otter, was declared extinct in 2012, like many otter species before it. The average size of a North American river otter is around 35-51.1 in (88.9-129.7 cm). They like to slide off. They move clumsily on land, paddle with their hind feet and tail, and are significantly bigger than most river otters, with some males weighing as much as 100 pounds. These otters seem to love peat swamp forests, especially those with Melaleuca, the swamp tea-tree. They also take over the riverbank dens of foxes, badgers, and rabbits. For one thing, sea otters murder other animals even when they don't get food out of it, just for fun or something. The aquarium has since devised a system of hand-rearing pups for the first six to eight weeksmostly for bottle feeding purposesbefore handing the pups off to female otters for raising. The Romans were notorious for gruesome execution methods. They hold each others's hands. For example, otters have been known to kill and eat kittens, and they have also been known to attack and kill humans. Mothers groom pups and blow air into the clean coat to create buoyancy. Otters won't act naturally with humans nearby, and using a telescope on a boat can get tricky in the rollicking ocean. In the absence of females of their own kind, then, they turned their typical sexual responses toward the seals. These usually show evidence of regular use in the form of tracks, smell, spraints (feces), and general wear-and-tear. European otter | The Wildlife Trusts Otters have been known to guard and have sex with the bodies of their victims for up to seven days after they've died. 241244. This suggests that the otters must first satisfy their nutritional needs before engaging in playful behaviors. Female otters are sows, and males are boars. All otters have webbed feet to help propel them through the water, and most species . However, even within these communal groups, otters still exhibit territorial behavior and establish dominance hierarchies, highlighting the importance of resource control in their survival. Otters have as many as 2.6 million hairs per square inch. 194-201., doi:10.1016/B978-012374473-9.00434-3. You bet they do! River otters are frequently mistaken for sea otters. The otters were examined in 2011 and none of the population showed any symptoms of the virus, but antibodies for the virus were discovered within 70 percent of 51 otters sampled. The kelp acts like an anchor and prevents them from floating out to the open ocean. But don't be deceived by the holding of hands and cheek rubbing sighted in photos used for posters, memes, and throw pillows, otters are still wild animals and can be harmful. One of the most disturbing facts about otters is their status on the endangered species act list. 6. Giant river otters hunt in a group of nine and hunt together, and also store food, giving them the nickname "lobos de ro" or "river wolves". First, male otters sometimes hold pups ransom to force their mothers to give up some of their food. The researchers found four prior scientific publications documenting attacks, including one that reported a deadly otter attack in India. They also force sex with other species.
A Eurasian river otter mother relaxes with with her two seven-month-old cubs on a shoreline in Shetland, U.K.
, The little-known history of the Florida panther. Otters are animals with thick fur that helps them float in the water; Otters often use rocks to crack open food; The male otter bites the female when they are breeding; While eating and resting otters often hold hands; Types of Otters. Compared to river otters, sea otters have an average size of 39.6-49.3 in (100.5-125.2 cm), making both the animals similar in size. Otters are well suited to a life on the water as they have . Most are small, with short ears and noses, elongated bodies, long tails, and. 15 Otter Facts That Are Otterly Amazing - The Fact Site Carnivore. Their fur is super dense. Their furry coats, innocent eyes, and tiny paws make them adorable little creatures. Otters reach swim speeds of up to 7 miles per hour. They are skilled hunters, feeding on a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. As a wildlife enthusiast with an insatiable curiosity for the natural world, Aleksandar is the man behind the scenes and, together with Kristina, has co-founded Wild Explained. Generally, a group of otters on land will go by a romp, while a group hanging in the water is called a raft. While they hunt for food underwater, theyll often store a rock in the skin under their arms for later use. In 2001, a female otter at the Monterey Bay Aquarium gave birth to a stillborn pup on the same day a stranded pup was discovered in the wild nearby. Heres how paradise fought back. Allison, Mari-Lisa, et al. 12 Cool Animals That Crawl (Crawl Speed & Pictures), What Eats Leopards (Top 5 Leopard Predators), Are Lions Smart? Scientists Pinpoint Parasite Strain, Weird and Fascinating Ways Animals Use Poop, River Otters Take Party Pooping to A New Level, A Keystone Species, The Sea Otter, Colonizes Glacier Bay, Energy Demands of Raising a Pup Push Sea Otter Moms to the Limit. Sea Otters as Keystone Species | A World Unseen: the diversity of life By understanding the less endearing aspects of otter behavior, we can better appreciate the full spectrum of their existence and develop more effective conservation strategies. Otters natural habitats are regularly disrupted or destroyed due to human activities, making it harder for them to survive. 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. Giant otters grow to as long as 6 feet and weigh as much as 75 pounds. Several organizations fund research projects that better understand the ecology of sea otters in order to create meaningful conservation solutions moving forward. Most of us could spend an entire day scrolling through cute otter videos on social media. Those efforts are admirable and valuable to the ecosystems of which otters are a part. In California's Monterey Bay, where scientists observed otters trying to copulate with the week-old bodies of dead baby seals, there are far more male otters than females. In this article, well uncover the lesser-known, disturbing truths about otters, exploring their aggressive tendencies, complex social structures, and the impact they have on their ecosystems. Meet the world's newest H1N1 flu carrier: the sea otter This ordinary woman hid Anne Frankand kept her story alive, This Persian marvel was lost for millennia. Spraint scents can vary, but often are (relatively) pleasantone expert described them as not "dissimilar to jasmine tea." Some Hold Hands While Sleeping. Otters have long been admired for their playful antics and endearing appearance. Facts about Otters - BioExpedition "North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis): A Technical Conservation Assessment." That's why we keep our work free. Jaymi Heimbuch is a writer and photographer specializing in wildlife conservation, technology, and food. Poaching for their velvet-like fur caused significant population declines. . But you can bank on the fact that there is an otter somewhere in a river near you if you live in Britain - a remarkable success story for a species driven to extinction in many parts of the country just decades ago. Who buys lion bones? When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. In some cases, otters may consume invasive species that are harmful to the ecosystem, potentially benefiting the fishing industry in the long run. Otter groups are called a family, bevy, lodge, or a romp. Giant otters average a weight of around 75 pounds but some have been noticed to be over six feet long. Why Are Otters Evil? (6 Disturbing Facts About Otters)