This is a great time of year to see the river otters. They come up through holes in the ice, and spend time fishing and playing.
River otters usually live alone, except for the females when they are raising their young. Otters usually just come together during the mating season around this time.
River otters are between 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet long, which includes their tail.
Their feet are webbed, and they can swim for long distances under water. They can hold their breath under the water for about eight minutes, and can travel up to a 1/4 mile underwater. They can also dive to a depth of 60 feet, so they can easily dive to the bottom of our lake.
They appear to enjoy playing games and fishing together. We often see “slides” on the river banks where they slide down, just as if they are tobogganing.
