How do otters catch fish

Otters are meat eaters. The otter diet consists mainly of fish and crawfish, but they also consume toads, frogs, reptiles, and even small mammals. When they are hungry for larger game, otters will attack birds, young beavers, and muskrats. While most of their activity takes place in the water, these pests can be a nuisance to homeowners who live near rivers.

After catching fish, otters eat their prey on the shore. Though they usually consume the entire fish, the animals may leave bones and other remains on homeowners' properties, which can attract other unwanted wildlife. Otters are especially damaging for property owners who run hatching sites or keep fish in their ponds.

They are at the top of the food chain in almost every environment they live. These highly intelligent mammals will use different tools and tactics in order to catch the prey. Giant otters and river otters use their vibrissae hair around the mouth to detect their prey.

Usually, otters will eat smaller fish in the water, whereas larger fish are consumed on the land. Handling a live fish takes practice. As a result, a nursing mother will teach their pups how to catch the fish until they are one year old. Otters are very agile water hunters. After fish is detected, an otter will quickly seize it with its sharp teeth. The biggest otter family member, a giant otter will hold its prey with paws while devouring it.

In addition to that, they will burn calories much faster compared to humans or other animals, to maintain their body temperature. As a result, otters will eat big amounts of food. For example, North American river otters need to catch 0. That being said, these semiaquatic creatures will eat close to 1 pound daily. After capturing the fish, otters will eat whole fish by consuming their heads first.

North American river otters will usually prey on smaller fish. If they get the chance to choose between game fish and slow swimming fish, they will pick slow ones every time. Sizing from 0. As for the giant otters, favorite fish include characins, catfish, and cichlids.

Nevertheless, if fish are nowhere to be found, otters will eat ducks , rabbits, rodents, snakes, smaller caimans, and even anacondas. No, otters do not kill for fun. Yet, during winter times, when fish is easily acquired, otters sometimes catch and kill more fish than they can actually eat. But once they finish eating, they will stop killing more fish. According to Wikipedia otters are not known to be surplus killers. Try This! Explore More. Using their long whiskers, river otters are able to locate prey in dark or cloudy water.

Scientific Name: Lontra canadensis. Type: Mammals. Diet: Carnivore. Size: Head and body: Weight: 11 to 30 pounds.