River Otter Prints In Mud

Tracks of a river otter in snow with a 6 inch ruler for scale.

River otter prints in mud.

River otters can smell concentrations of fish in upstream ponds that drain into small slow moving streams and will follow that smell to its origin even in urban areas. Webbing doesn t always show in tracks and a trail drag may be visible in good substrate. European otter lutra lutra trail on snow and frozen lake at midwinter finland. Like other mustelids otter feet have 5 toes claws and a c shaped palm pad.

A pair of older otter tracks in sand near a river. River otters usually feed on slow moving fish such as carp mud minnows stickle backs and suckers that are from four to six inches long. They also have five toes a distinctive sign that it s an otter print. European river otter european otter eurasian otter lutra lutra tracks in snow on partly frozen pond germany.

Sea otter enhydra. River otter trail heading toward the camera and raccoon heading away. Look for tracks on muddy river banks around ponds streams lakes rivers marshes and beaches near fresh water. Otters share many characteristics with their weasel family relatives.

These are 2 7cm long will contain fish bones and scales be tarry and black. Two otter trails follow the river s edge. Running stride is 12 24 300 600 mm. A very nice set of otter tracks in fine mud.

In other words otter droppings. Otter lutra lutra dropping spraint on rock at edge of lake. Close up of oriental small clawed otter amblonyx cinereus 5 years old lying in front of white background. Sometimes only 4 toes show in the track and sometimes the substrate the snow sand mud etc is so poor that you can t see the tracks clearly.

An otter track is 3 1 4 80 mm wide or more about 4 long and often show only heel pad and claws. Captive close up of a sea otter floating on its back point defiance zoo tacoma washington usa. Look for signs of otter on muddy or snowy river banks where you can find prints and trough from belly sliding into the water. Keep in mind that the type of substrate sand mud snow etc will influence the overall track size and shape.

A domestic cat s tracks can be seen in the upper right corner of the photo. At the top are the tracks of a raccoon. Otter tracks in the mud by the river wear. Toes fan out widely but webbing rarely prints except in mud.

A pair of river otter tracks in wet sand. Otters frequently come out of the water and run along the river banks like this pair did. The tracks of a group of river otters. They have five toes on their feet and short claws that give their prints a pointed look.