Kenny Brewer waded waist-deep into … Final Report . July 30, 2009 . River otters are polygynous. 9. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. River otters use their scent to mark their territorial boundaries. Alaska Otters can weigh up to 100 pounds and be up to 5 feet in length. A group of river otters attacked and nearly drowned a dog at Taku Lake last Wednesday around 6 p.m. Kenny Brewer says he had his dog Ruby – a 50-pound Husky mix – on a leash when he noticed the otters swimming along the north side of the lake. They have scent glands at the base of their tail, and they deposit their musky scent on their dung, which is called spraint. The gestation period lasts for 61 – 63 days. And some of these otters are living in the Anchorage city limits! Alaska Photo Source (dba Donna Dewhurst Photography) specializes in Alaskan wildlife, landscapes, places to visit and outdoor activities. Please let me know if anyone is interested. Northern River Otters (Lontra canadensis) returning to the ice shelf with a silver salmon, Seward. There are many places to see bears in Alaska, but if your goal is to make sure you see a bear -- and potentially lots of bears -- these are the best places (but note that, in most cases, you have to time your trip to salmon runs, when bears are present):. As little as 50% of the southwest stock remains since the 1980s, and the Aleutian Archipelago population decreased from ≈74,000 to 8,742 by 2000. When it comes to picking a good place to socialize, the bathroom probably isn’t high on your list. River otters are amphibious animals that are related to the weasel family; sea otters are their cousins, along with mink and wolverines. Photographer Eleanor Batchelder spotted this otter in the Ship Creek area. A river otter has a strong neck and a jaw that is capable of cracking shells of crustaceans plus teeth for ripping meat. Brown Trout Pair of Brown Trout ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An Alaska man rescued his family’s dog from an attack by river otters in a small lake at an Anchorage park, he said. Conversely, solitary otters, mainly females, feed on intertidal-demersal fish and display mutual … River otters on the coast of Alaska lead unusual lives. The dog’s owner waded waist-deep into Taku Lake and was bitten on his hand while pulling the husky-mix away from the river otters, Alaska Public Media reported. Chasing is also a common game. PMID: 17347401 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Historically, sea otters were nearly hunted to extinction, first by the Russians who forced the Aleut and Alutiiq people to hunt and later by the Americans after the Alaska purchase. Male otters can be part of large groups (9 – 30) that hunt cooperatively, particularly in marine habitats. Hi, I have several male River Otters caught this year in the Prince William Sound of Alaska. Secret places to explore are found at Yu. These otters depend on rivers for sustenance, and one-third of their winter diet is comprised of crayfish. River Otters (Lontra canadensis) in Southcentral Alaska: Distribution, Relative Abundance, and Minimum Population Size . River Otters Reproduction | River Otter Facts. Contact: alaskaphotosource@live.com. It is estimated that there were between 100,000 and 150,000 sea otters in and around Alaska waters at the time of the Russian arrival in 1741. For coastal river otters in southcentral Alaska, however, the bathroom is a major social hub.. Based on Coastal Latrine Site Surveys. Alaska. The increased time underwater improves otters’ opportunity to sense prey and forage for food. Coastal river otters in Alaska have smaller home ranges than otters in inland waterways because coastal areas provide an abundance of food. River otters are renowned for their sense of play. Photo by Jim Pfeiffenberger, National Park Service. Effects of climate change on animal behavior and cascading ecosystem responses are rarely evaluated. For the males, much of their social life centers on a shared bathroom area. Scent Communication. River otters can be distinguished from their Sea Otter cousins by watching them in action. I can skin them however desired. The sightless and nearly helpless young are usually born in the months of March and May. In coastal Alaska, social river otters (Lontra Canadensis), largely males, cooperatively forage on schooling fish and use latrine sites to communicate group associations and dominance. It’s nice to have the neighbors visit. A sea otter floats in the water outside Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. Alaska has both river otters and sea otters. They usually breed in the months of December to April. Otters are an essential keystone species. Researchers are now working to understand how otters use these latrine sites to communicate and build social groups. Both male and female becomes mature after two years of age. Latrines offer river otters a stinky “phone a friend” with their neighbors. North american river otter. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). 2004). The otters were hunted to near-extinction, but a treaty signed in 1911 marked the end of their decline. 2002), although some individuals of both sexes remained solitary (Blundell et al. The Best Bear Viewing. Sea otters are the ones that like to float on their backs, and river otters don't really do that. Our wildlife cameras on Martha’s Vineyard have documented groups of 2 – 8 otters. We also sell stock photography through AccentAlaska.com. Typical habitats include lakes, rivers, marshes, and coastal shorelines. 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