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Northern river otters inhabit many of South Carolina's aquatic environments, from upland streams to coastal estuaries. These intelligent members of the weasel family are voracious and opportunistic eaters.
Background
River otters are widely distributed across North America, though in the past they've suffered from pollution, habitat loss and other maladies. They are a regulated furbearer species in South Carolina.
Foundation of the Diet
The bulk of the river otter's diet across most of its range is fish, especially slower moving species.
Crayfish
Otters eat more than fish, also favoring crayfish. A Pennsylvania study of more than 400 otter scats showed 44 percent containing crayfish. This was the second largest proportion of prey, after fish. Research showed a summer preference for crayfish, when the crustaceans are most abundant.
Other
Otters will also hunt frogs, snakes, birds and anything else they can reasonably capture and overpower.
Hunting
River otters hunt using their supreme underwater agility and the power of their crushing jaws.
Source:
Commercial Fur Harvest Regulations (South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources)
Otters: Ecology, Behavior & Conservation; Hans Kruuk; 2006.
Resource:
Northern River Otter (Animal Diversity Web)
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