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. Even if that means keeping others pups as hostages. Therefore, they are big on tools and will often use rocks to help crack into dinner.
A Eurasian river otter mother relaxes with with her two seven-month-old cubs on a shoreline in Shetland, U.K.
, The little-known history of the Florida panther. Don't flush hazardous chemicals or cat litter. 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. "River Otter, Wildlife Note." Source: Scientific Reasons for B.S Things Our Bodies Do. Despite spending most of their time in the water, otters cant breathe underwater; as mammals, they need air. Support our mission and help keep Vox free for all by making a financial contribution to Vox today. They can also be called kits or kittens. If your brainstem (the part of the brain that mediates most motor control for all of the body) is damaged, you can get "locked-in" syndrome. Advertisement. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The case against otters: necrophiliac, serial-killing fur monsters of the sea, The secret delegate battle that will decide the 2024 Republican nominee, The Dark Brandonmeme and why the Biden campaign has embraced it explained. 11 Adorable Facts about Otters - Fact City There are two layers of furan undercoat and then longer hairs that we can see. 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. UC Davis, 2019. A 2011 study found 39 anecdotal reports of river otter attacks in North America, 35 of which occurred after 1980. They bite their female partner's face during copulation to keep her from slipping away, leaving her with substantial facial wounds. Otters (genus Lutra) hail from the subfamily of Lutrinae and are carnivorous mammals. They generally forage in the water, but they can also hunt on land. A decent share of the attacking otters have been rabid; in the '90s, 46 percent of otter attacks involved rabies, and in the '00s, 24 percent did. Mothers spend up to 14 hours per day foraging to support a pup's intense nutrition needs. While this may seem like a cooperative and selfless act, it can also involve more sinister elements. Sea Otters Have the World's Thickest Fur, 20 Bizarre and Beautiful Starfish Species, 10 US Ecosystems Saved by Endangered Species, 12 Facts About Sea Otters for Sea Otter Awareness Week, How to Tell the Difference Between Sea Otters and River Otters, Whats Killing Sea Otters? What is otter personality? - KnowledgeBurrow.com Otters survive by hunting, and as such they live in unpolluted waters. Although they may be adorable and hold hands while traveling, dont forget how distressing and evil otters are. In Alaska's Aleutian Islands, the species has seen a marked decline since the 1980s. In areas where otter populations are declining, conservationists may attempt to introduce new individuals to bolster the population. As a result, conservation efforts have been put in place to help protect these animals. Otters have their cubs in underground dens called holts, which they dig themselves. In addition to re-introduction programs, other measures are also taken by conservationists such as habitat protection, awareness campaigns targeting local communities about how their activities target or affect the animals populations, monitoring and control over toxins released into water bodies with where otters live or breed and enforcement of laws against hunting or poaching.