Are otters predators?
Do they eat other animals?
We’ll gladly answer that question: yes, they do.
Otters are predators just like many other mammals.
They use their claws to help them hunt and feed on fish, crabs, turtles, clams, mollusks, insects, birds, and even large mammals such as deer.
Which Otters Are Predators?
There are two species of otter that are classified as predators: the North American river otter and the sea otter.
The sea otter feeds on shellfish which can include crabs, clams, and mussels.
They will also eat a variety of animals including worms, snails, sea urchins, and dead animals from the ocean floor.
The North American river otters have been known to feed on frogs, salamanders, small fish, and insects.
In some cases, they have been known to eat very large animals such as ducks, chickens, and even the occasional beaver.
How Do Otters Hunt?
They will hunt in a variety of ways including playing with their prey by tossing it into the air.
They will also poke at them with their paws or drag them underwater until they drown.
Once dead, it will be eaten right away or stored for later consumption.
They also use their very powerful tail to propel themselves through the water faster and more efficiently.
They have been clocked going up to about 12 miles per hour using this technique!
That is a lot of speed for a predator that weighs only 10 pounds!
Otters use their whiskers to tell how fast the current is.
They will rub them together to get a sense of the speed and direction of the water flow so they know which way to go without having to look at it directly.
They also rely on their whiskers and nose when hunting for food.
When the whiskers hit the prey, the otter knows it is time to pounce!
The river otters can consume up to one-quarter of their body weight in food each day.
This means they are always hunting for something tasty and fresh.
They have an excellent sense of smell which helps them find prey in the water even when it is hiding.
They typically hunt alone because they are territorial creatures.
Do Otters Attack Outside of Animals?
When friends and family members get together it is usually for the purpose of play.
They generally do not pose any threat to humans that are in the water or on land.
The only exception may be if the otter feels its territory is being invaded by a larger animal such as a human, bear, or wolf.
In that case, it may attack to protect its territory.
They usually become a threat when they consider the water from their habitat as something that is accessible for them to use.
They will then go after unsuspecting swimmers in the same way that they would hunt fish.
If this happens, it is best to get out of the water and away from the otter as quickly as possible.
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