This frog will kill you with a single touch. That is, a male otter will bite the female's snout and place her head underwater - often drowning her or seriously injuring her in the process. As we delve deeper into their behavior and life in the wild, you may be surprised to learn that these seemingly adorable animals have a darker side. Lets end this on a somewhat less disturbing note! It shouldnt be surprising to learn that otters will force themselves on other animals. By understanding the less endearing aspects of otter behavior, we can better appreciate the full spectrum of their existence and develop more effective conservation strategies. After raping a baby seal to death, this psycho licked his paws, like Hannibal Lecter or something. Sea otters have an ingenious method to open shellfish. This semiaquatic mammal has the weight of 11 to 30.9 lb or 5 to 14 kilograms. In particular, it is well known that sea otters will force themselves on baby seals. River otter | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Email: [emailprotected]. Their sleek bodies range in size from 2 to 5.9 feet. Yes, they have natural predators such as large birds of prey, alligators, and crocodiles. "Why are otters playful?" They tuck prey into pockets of loose skin under their arms and use rocks as tools to open shellfish. When a pup is small, the mother will hold it on her belly to keep it from floating away. Furthermore, their presence in an ecosystem can indicate a healthy and balanced environment, which can have positive implications for fishing and other industries. In 2010, veterinarian Heather Harris and her co-authors Stori Oates, Michelle Staedler, Tim Tinker, David Jessup, James Harvey, and Melissa Miller published an article in Aquatic Mammals documenting about 19 cases of sea otters attacking baby seals. Otters can hold their breath for 3-4 minutes, closing their nostrils and ears to keep out water. Additionally, education and awareness programs can play a role in preventing these conflicts. This ancient religion considered otters to be the dogs of the river or sea and had strict rules forbidding the killing of otters. Tags Here's what you need to know about these terrible animals, and why you should fear and hate them. They then leave droppings called spraints, which refer to a single bowel evacuation and that researchers describe as smelling like violets. Four Incredible Facts About Sea Otters Over the course of a rough winter, he meticulously documented many species, and while some have since gone extinct (like a sea-cow he described that was hunted into extinction), the adorable otter was among his initial discoveries. River Otter - Facts and Beyond | Biology Dictionary How do otters stay warm? Their droppings are known as spraints and can be identified by an odour that is said to range from musky mown hay to jasmine tea to rotting fish. A group of otters in the water is most often called a raft. The elusive otter is one of our top predators, feeding mainly on fish (particularly eels and salmonids), waterbirds, amphibians and crustaceans. Size: Head and body: 21.75 to 31.5 inches; tail: 11.75 to 19.75 inches. What we didnt mention, though, is thatotters can infect humans with the H1N1 virus. Conger, Cristen. To save chestnut trees, we may have to play God, Why you should add native plants to your garden, What you can do right now to advocate for the planet, Why poison ivy is an unlikely climate change winner. The forceful mating practices of otters also have implications for conservation efforts. This impact on fisheries can be particularly significant in areas with already vulnerable fish populations, where otters predation can further destabilize the ecosystem. The other, Mustelinae, includes badgers, weasels, and ferrets, among other similar mammals. Asian Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus) - Native to South China and India, and Southeast . They involve the reintroduction of captive-bred adult otters into carefully selected and monitored habitats that offer suitable conditions such as prey availability, the presence of suitable dens for accommodation, predator presence, and levels of toxic pollutants. Even though mature sea otters weigh roughly 100 pounds, they require about 7,500 calories per day! Introduction to Otters - BioExpedition Otters' big appetites protect kelp forests by eating sea urchins. 7, no. How this animal can survive is a mystery. Otters are often thought of as cute, cuddly creatures, but there are some disturbing facts about these animals that many people don't know. These conflicts are a sobering reminder of the brutality of the natural world and the lengths to which animals will go to protect their resources. As explained by the National Wildlife Foundation's Robyn Carmichael, sea otters frequently eat sea urchins, which in turn are known for eating massive amounts of kelp, which is very good at taking in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. 6 Reasons Why Otters Are Evil #1 Otters are Voracious Carnivores This may not surprise those who know the animal well, but it's important to note that otters are carnivores. (Exploring the Intelligence of Lions), 11 Powerful Animals With No Natural Predators. Most otters have sharp claws at the end of each toe, which helps them to grab prey. Sea otters cannot swim at all for their first month, despite being born in the open sea. Wildlife managers must consider not only the direct impact of otter populations on ecosystems but also the indirect consequences of disease spread. Among the most notable calls: a "hum gradation" used to tell otters to change directions and a "Hah!" Womble, Jamie. They will also use hollows under trees or old rabbit holes. Most species hunt for three to five hours each day and nursing mothers up to eight hours each day. 5 Otter Facts. Forceful mating practices are a disturbing aspect of otter behavior that highlights the darker side of their seemingly innocent and playful appearance. Yes, the phenomenon of otters holding hands is completely true. Their construction activities can lead to the erosion of riverbanks, the destruction of vegetation, and the alteration of water flow in the surrounding area. Therefore, sea otters are obsessive about keeping their fur clean, and groom themselves . "12 Facts About Sea Otters for Sea Otter Awareness Week." Moreover, sea otters have in at least some cases shown a willingness to attack primates, as in the case of the above sea otters in the Bronx Zoo, which killed a monkey with whom they shared an exhibit. National Park Service, 2016. 11 Adorable Facts about Otters - Fact City Koalas don't drink water. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Depending on how hungry they are and how much they have access to food, otters arent too picky with their meals! Conservation efforts are in place to protect and preserve these species, but more is needed to ensure their long-term survival. "A Keystone Species, The Sea Otter, Colonizes Glacier Bay." If you thought that these are the worst disturbing facts about otters, youd be mistaken were just getting started with the absolute worst these animals do. In the Aborigine language, the word "koala" actually means no water. As a result of their rapid decline, many countries have enacted laws and regulations to protect sea otters. Stevens, Sadie S., and Thomas L. Serfass. Oracka 4, Nova Iskra, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia Rape or, as biologists usually call it, "forced copulation" is a disturbing fact of life in the animal kingdom. The history of book bansand their changing targetsin the U.S. International Otter Survival Fund. For starters, male sea otters have been known to assault and even kill seal pups. Creepy Facts About Animals That Will Keep You Up At Night You keep hoping that. This combination allows them to have greater nimbleness when foraging. Something went wrong. They also force sex with other species. Do you think that seals are the only species that otters enjoy using? At 105 min into the encounter, the sea otter released the pup, now dead, and began grooming.You read that correctly. To prevent these conflicts, it is important to avoid approaching them or their dens, particularly during breeding season when they may be more aggressive. This suggests that the otters must first satisfy their nutritional needs before engaging in playful behaviors. Spraint composition is unique to each otter, and the creatures can identify each other by the smells. Wild Explained is the go-to source for all things related to wildlife. Webbed feet and powerful tails, which act like rudders, make otters strong swimmers. The species' recovery has been considerably slower in California relative to other areas. However, even within these communal groups, otters still exhibit territorial behavior and establish dominance hierarchies, highlighting the importance of resource control in their survival. They rape baby seals and hold each others pups hostage for food. The presence of a healthy otter population indicates a healthy watershed. 15 Fun Facts About Sea Otters That Will Amaze You Forced interspecies sex. Otters have long been admired for their playful antics and endearing appearance. Ten Facts about Sea Otters | Blog Posts | WWF The only places without endemic otters are Australia and Antarctica. "Weird and Fascinating Ways Animals Use Poop." Surprisingly, an intriguing fact that distinguishes these creatures is their distinctive nature to live as aquatics and . That's right, the adorable mammals have been known to exhibit necrophilia, even with members of different species, such as baby seals. They are skilled hunters, feeding on a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. As avid animal lovers, our goal is to use our knowledge and passion to deliver accurate and reliable information about various topics related to wild animals. They live in intricate social structures, with a distinct hierarchy that dictates their interactions. They mark their territory with scent glands located near their tails, communicating ownership and boundaries to other otters. Otters: the violent, necrophiliac, serial-killing fur monsters of the Unauthorized use is prohibited. Hell, Vox.com once employed its own full-time otter enthusiast. "The Fantastic Fur of Sea Otters." A Eurasian river otter mother relaxes with with her two seven-month-old cubs on a shoreline in Shetland, U.K. Otters also have particularly stinky poop, which even has its own name: spraints. The male of this species tends to be larger than the females. March 28, 2023 by Wilson Singleton. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Sea otters, particularly mothers and pups, sometimes hold hands while floating on their backs. I just think otters are jerks. Most females drown in this process. Don't flush hazardous chemicals or cat litter. Young and old otters most often juggle rocks. What we can learn from Chernobyl's strays. German zoologist and botanist Georg Wilhelm Steller was the first to scientifically describe numerous new animals on the 1741 explorative voyage from Russia. North American River Otter | National Geographic River otters generally live along rivers, as their name implies, but they're also found near streams and lakes. There are around 13 extant species, out of which some of them are aquatic, semiaquatic, and marine, and their diet mainly consists of fish and invertebrates. The fight to make it harder for landlords to evict their tenants, On Succession, Sisyphus rolls the rock uphill, Ecuadors political instability, explained, In Sudan, the US government finally begins evacuating its citizens. The lifespan varies depending on the species and region. The otter has a lithe and slender body with short legs, a strong neck, and a long flattened tail that helps propel the animal gracefully through water. But you can bank on the fact that there is an otter somewhere in a river near you if you live in Britain - a remarkable success story for a species driven to extinction in many parts of the country just decades ago. How do we reverse the trend? Sea otters, unlike other marine mammals, do not have a . Otters are adorable creatures that live both on land and in the water. An Otter can remain under water for up to 4 minutes. For one thing, sea otters murder other animals even when they don't get food out of it, just for fun or something. Otters have their cubs in underground burrows, known as 'holts'. 2023 NatureWorldNews.com All rights reserved. When its time to nap, sea otters entangle themselves in kelp so they dont float away. They have webbed feet and the ability to close their nose and ears underwater.Twelve out of thirteen otter species are in decline. A version of this story originally ran in 2015. On top of that, pups have 11 of their own calls that they intersperse with "infant babbling." Read our about page! When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 2 hours of sleep? Zoroastrians would also hold ceremonies for otters found dead in the wild. His articles have been mentioned by Wikipedia, USA Today, and HuffPost, among others. Fun Otter Facts For Kids | Kidadl River otters live primarily in freshwater, though they do swim and hunt in seawater. Can Frogs Feel Happy? In one prior report on breeding-associated mortality, a tagged territorial male sea otter held a struggling female underwater until her body became limp and then copulated repeatedly with her carcass. First, male otters sometimes hold pups ransom to force their mothers to give up some of their food. They juggle rocks. A 2011 study found 39 anecdotal reports of river otter attacks in North America, 35 of which occurred after 1980. Despite spending most of their time in the water, otters cant breathe underwater; as mammals, they need air. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. We thought we knew turtles. The other 12 otter species were recently identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as having decreasing populations, and five otter species are already on the endangered list. Their nostrils and ears close to keep water out, and waterproof fur keeps them warm. Unlike other weasels, otters are semi-aquatic. One of the most disturbing facts about otters is their status on the endangered species act list. Generally the tail will make up about one third of the body. Nope, they are horrific menaces to other species. North American river otter | Smithsonian's National Zoo Perhaps the worst (alleged) method was called scaphism, in which a person was force-fed, and covered in, milk and honey, put in a swamp,. It may be tempting to try and pet the cute and. These injuries can be so deep that they result in the females death. Otters are very social creatures. And since otters have superb metabolisms and can easily eat up to 15 percent of their body weight each day, there's a lot of spraint to go around. That amount of calories is insane because that is three times what an average human needs. "How to Tell the Difference Between Sea Otters and River Otters." But the last 40 years haven't consisted of unerring progress for the sea otter.
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