Detroit Zoo Podcast Talking Points North American River Otters

On camera: Welcome to the Edward Mardigian Sr. River Otter Habitat. Im _____, _____ and Im happy to give you a closer look at some of the Detroit Zoos most outstanding swimmers the North American river otters. For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Detroit Zoo celebrated the birth of North American river otters in 2012. Three pups males Slyde and Bobby, and female Emmy were born to mother Whisker and father Lucius. Voiceover: The female river otter delivers a litter of one to six pups after an eight-week gestation period. At around two months old, the young ones get their first swimming lesson when their mother pushes them into the water. Otters are natural swimmers and, with maternal supervision, the pups quickly catch on. The river otters home at Detroit Zoos Edward Mardigian Sr. River Otter Habitat features an 8,200-gallon pool with a waterfall and waterslide. The habitat is designed so that small children can view the otters at eye-level as they swim.

 The North American river otter is an aquatic mammal that is native to Michigan. A mature river otter can reach 20-30 pounds, and its slender, cylindrical body can reach 2-3 feet in length. It has short, dense, waterproof fur and profuse whiskers. Flaps in its nostrils and ears shut to keep water out, and excellent underwater vision helps it catch prey. The playful river otter is swift on land as well as in the water, though its loping trot can look somewhat ungainly compared to its graceful slide through the water. Once abundant in U.S. and Canadian rivers, lakes and coastal areas, river otter populations have suffered significant declines as a result of fur trapping, water pollution, habitat destruction, pesticides and other threats. Today, they can be found in parts of Canada, the Northwest, the upper Great Lakes area, New England and Atlantic and Gulf Coast states. On camera: River otters typically live to around eight years in the wild but can live as long as 18 years in captivity. You can watch the river otters practice their aquatic skills in the Edward Mardigian Sr. River Otter habitat, located north of Amphibiville.