ORDER CARNIVORA

Family Mustelidae - Mustelids

  Lontra canadensis - Northern River Otter

PENNSYLVANIA WILDLIFE (MARCH/APRIL 2000) More than 100 otter have been released in northcentral, northwestern and southwestern PA since 1982. 12 more will be released in the Youghiogheny River basin in southwestern Somerset County this year.

Backpacker (12/97) - From 1990-1995, 267 otters have been reintroduced into the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests (704) 257-4200. Try the Little Tennessee, North Toe, Hiwassee, and Broad rivers.

PENNSYLVANIA WILDLIFE (VOL.XVIII, NO.4) – 25 otter have been introduced into the Youghiogheny basin between 1992 and 1994 under the direction of Dr. Tom Serfass.

SMITHSONIAN (?) - River otter (Lutra canadensis)are in the weasel family (Mustelidae). To be anthropomorphic, otters clearly have fun; not just as juveniles, but throughout adulthood. This, despite other members of the weasel family, who don't share this apparent attribute. Most mustelids, including otter, are voracious carnivores. The only other North American otter is the Pacific-dwelling sea otter. The Sevins have been raising otter in Kentucky since 1957. Through the State, Kentucky trade the otter for turkey from the State of Missouri (36 turkey per 20 otter is the going rate). (Another example of state trades are Colorado bighorn sheep for Oregon otter and white-tailed ptarmigan for Utah moose.