A DOSSIER ON LUTRA (-THE OTTER) ST-rL,!:,IARY Lutra, the otter, is a co,-ipact, powerful, intelligent nik-t.al capable of negotiating land, water, and obstacles with great facility. Lutra can'survive in hostile environments such as under ice, in hot water, in racing seas, and even in urban environments. Capable of being easily trai0ned and becomes devoted to humans which sometimes leads to its destruction. It can find its own food if necessary and can make long.journeys routinely. Basic cost of animal moderate ($75 -$150) as-'is maintenance. Ha-------een used by man as a pet and in the orient for fishing.... -TS AN OTTER? An otter is Phylum Chorda@-a Class MarLrialia Order Carnivora Family Mus%-elidae Genus Lutra Species: Many smecies and sub-speci-es. There are two animals commo2nly called the 'otter' - specifically .the Sea Otter ( Enhydra lutris ) and the land otter (Lutra). The Sea Otter lives. mostly at sea; is nearly extinct; and differs considerably --@=or,-, the"-land otters. For this reason our discussion will cover Lutra, the,land otter. There are many species and subsnecies of,Lutra. Lutra lives all2 over the world in various --Forms.' They may grow as large as small seals.-.In general,Lutra canadensis is representative of most.-. otters 3.n size, physiology, habits, etc. For this reason the following dossier will bul- infrequently refer to species and subspecies of Lutra, the River Otter. Some taxonomists consider the Sea Otter to be so different 0 from, the Land or River Ctter that it is considered to be a -Sub-Familv. LCCO,@'0'-r"LO@N - LA,@TD Can run radidly on land. In @-he wild ranges a territory over 50 miles. Will make night excursion o@F 15 miles. in one case was chased 28 miles by otter-hounds@ Can climb stairs, ladder, and other objects easily. Ability to slide down inclines with ease. 8 LOCOZ.,.TCTION IIATER Must be taught to swim. Can swim 10 mnh or faster. Can catch most fish easily. Dives to 60 feet and can stay submerged 4-6 minutes. Enters and leaves boat easily. Can be trained to catch fish. SleeDs Lll.oating on back. will carry large fish (5-10 pounds) through the water. ?-F.YSIOLOGY LE,-NTGTH 4-5 feet witi 1 foot tail . Some varieties rL-,uc.h longer. I,7E!C-HT 25 pounds. (Sea ot'Ler 80 -ooLnds.) Some Central American varieties as large as small-seals. FEET Webbed. 5 toes on each foot2. Claws good for clir,Lbir,g,'but not for holding.Pads on toes canable of holding slinnery eel. Tracks: F 21-2 X 3, 5 H 3 X 3,5 (Lutra canadensis) Durability - 100@la Guard ]@airs with soft fur underneath. OuL@-er hair holds water; surface tension holds t5hem togetr-er to,provide packing of under-fur to prov ide insulation. Some air held in'fur'. .DENTITION: C p 4 M 1 BODY TEMPERATURE: 38-390C L I F':-!' C'l C L E Probably mates for li,-Fe. Plo-dt snecies breed at any time of years, some in late February. Young born about 60 days later. Litter 1- 5 (cubs, kits, pu-zs). Blind for 5 weeks. ileaned in 4 months. Both parents help in rearing animals. Sma9ll animals stay with parents one year. Life span greater than 15 years. F'-7 t-'D 7LG Young animals can be bottle led with same formula used for 'numan babies. Diarrhea controlled by varying sugar and water in formula. Rub anixals'gut witn moistened finger to simulate licking of mother animal this will substitute for peristalsis in young animals. 2Wean as soon as possible to fish. Eels particularly good, but any fish.will do. Will eat poultry, animal meat, eggs, and other high protein foods. (Ot'-,ier foods,,ho-viever, do not seem to harm animal.) Schedule feeding of young onc"e per two hours and train to go overnight without feeding as.soon as possible just as 6 with human baby. Mucus in stool normal. Animal will catch own food and establish own Preferences.' Z-. S PORT n7G Transmorting an otter is ez-:,=a,:)-ionally difficult. Animal resents restricted quarl@ers and will fight and tear itself to des6truction to escane. Tranauilizers are partially effective. in like manner, once animal has enjoyed freedom eaual2 to t.1a@--. of dog, it is difficu7-@- to 'tee-o it caged. For transporting it is reco=ended that it travel with owner or else special care' be taken to train animal to accept con'Lined.quar-Lers (ill Dossible). As last resort, rely on medication I- zers/-anesthesia No matter how brutal transoor@@i-nci can be (and other wavs man inflicts pain on the otl@er) it never seems to resent this -tteatmerlt. SL',:-"!-'PING: Usually sleeds on back w.-@,.@-.h 'arms' folded. Likes to sleeo wit'.Ii hu,-,,=-ns. 'v7i-ll sleen all night although in the wild it can be nocturnal. @'LA@'ZUAL A-NTD O-R.7@-T DEXTER-,-TY: Can open zipper, climb ladder, chew through zinc sheet, turn on water ta-o, carry stones and marbles also larger objects, throw objects with head (from mouth), hold slinnery objects, carry objects in 'arms' while swimming also in mouth, will cover hinself.' SI-II,2.2,',ING:2 Must learn to swim at earlv age. Has initial -er which must be overcome. fear of wat-. FEARS: Seems to thow no -@'.nterest and/or fear of cities, other anirals (e.,.ccemt very large birds such as eagles), jet (and other) aircraft, railroad stations, crowds of people, etc. Will Llear water if n4ot trained to it. VOICE: Ranges from chirps to aspirations, sighs, "Hah", and a wa4-l (from @ihimzering to rage). MISCLLANEOUS DO'S AiN-.,D DONT'S 1. Never take away pa=ticularly that which he has just caught,cr suffer severe mauling. 2. Never,if possi'ole,confine (or leave in zoo or kennel) an otter which has enjoyed any human companionshiv or freedom. 3. Ot@@.ers ar0e very-sensitive.to some drugs ifnich might be found in pesticides. 4. Do not panic when animal is in rough.water, mountainous waves, or unaer ice-. IYCIDE:i@',TAL (BUT CRITICAL A@'.rD USER-UL) INTO-R%,aT-TON 1. Has excellenk@ sense of d-'&.rection; can find ai---holes under ice easily. 2. All otters are automatically housebroken. 3. Otters have no natural fear of man when you2ng. 4. Has a tendency to lr4--@,-,alizel behavior (as do many animals) . For examnle, some will chew 5 crunches on the left side of the mout.1i, --'.hen 5 crunc.hes on the right, on and on; Will roll ball uD and down stomach exactly the same way over and over aga@n; Will rap.,!. door repetitive pat-":ern; etc.' 5. Can survive water hotter than human would care to ba-'@'.he in. 6. Is very ticklish around the ribs (good way to distract stubborn,otter). 7. Has good time sense (e'.g. will wa'i-Ce up exactly at a certain tine'each morning). 5 8. Excrement (called Ispraint') has little or no odor. 9. Harness desireable'l) to keep in check in city and 2) to identify animal to hunters as being tame (in forest). (Special harness required see page describing it). AN O@LTER-F2--,R'-jr-SS verv otter should have a harness so that it can be better handled in the urban environment and so that it can be identified as a pet in the country envi ronment (by hunters and others). .T',-.e- otter is lanky with a sLT..all head. For this reason a smecial 2 harness must be built. Because the animal slides.a lot, a lbreasv-_-platel is necessary. Tne design below was worked ou 4- by Ma:c@vell. In only one case did he ever suspect that his animal became 'hung up' by his harness Nihi.le roaming the countryside. Note that the straps are su.Llficientlv tight allow :tome of the guard 2hairs to pass over it i4n4-ch reduces the chance of it being caught on ob)ects. ---------- ------ OT-TER BR:-:.AST-PLATE SNAP 7 t V T E ".,I BUCI