Otters

North American river otters are prolific in Otter Lake and are frequently seen frolicking in the bays and nearshore areas. Abundant in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, their streamlined bodies and lengthy tails make them great swimmers with a coat that is thick, warm, and waterproof. Their feet have claws and are completely webbed.

Males average larger than females in all measurements and weigh 15-25 pounds.

Click or hard press on QR code to see video of otters playing in Otter Lake

Males and females do not associate except during the mating season in early spring. Their dens have underwater entrances and a tunnel leading to a nest chamber that is lined with leaves, grass, moss, bark, and hair. With an average gestation period of just two months, otters are born in litters of 1-6.

Otters are playful animals, exhibiting behaviors such as mud/snow sliding, burrowing through the snow, and waterplay. They get their boundless energy from their very high metabolism, which also requires them to eat a great deal during the day. Many "play" activities actually serve a purpose, including strengthening social bonds, practicing hunting techniques, and leaving scents to mark territory.

FUN FACTS

🦦 Otters are excellent swimmers and divers, able to stay underwater for up to 8 minutes.

🦦 Equally fast on land, otters are capable of running at up to 18 miles/hr.

🦦 An otter’s average life expectancy in the wild is 8-9 years.

🦦 River otters are not found in highly polluted watersheds so have become excellent indicators of the health of a lake or river.

Photos and Otter Lake video courtesy Edevansuk/Getty, Kathy Potgeter, Irwin archives.

See River Otter bracing for a harsh Michigan winter, courtesy Smithsonian Channel