River Otter Prints In Mud

Otter lutra lutra dropping spraint on rock at edge of lake.

River otter prints 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. Like other mustelids otter feet have 5 toes claws and a c shaped palm pad. Tracks of a river otter in snow with a 6 inch ruler for scale.

Sea otter enhydra. Otter tracks in the mud by the river wear. Captive close up of a sea otter floating on its back point defiance zoo tacoma washington usa. Toes fan out widely but webbing rarely prints except in mud.

A domestic cat s tracks can be seen in the upper right corner of the photo. Two otter trails follow the river s edge. 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. Look for tracks on muddy river banks around ponds streams lakes rivers marshes and beaches near fresh water.

Otter tracks in the mud by the river wear. These are 2 7cm long will contain fish bones and scales be tarry and black. They also have five toes a distinctive sign that it s an otter print. In other words otter droppings.

Webbing doesn t always show in tracks and a trail drag may be visible in good substrate. An otter track is 3 1 4 80 mm wide or more about 4 long and often show only heel pad and claws. Tracks in mud are likely to be more distinctive than tracks in dry sand. Running stride is 12 24 300 600 mm.

Keep in mind that the type of substrate sand mud snow etc will influence the overall track size and shape. Otter prints can be found at the edge of river banks in gravel sand and mud and on tarmac if they have just left the river. A very nice set of otter tracks in fine mud. Look for signs of otter on muddy or snowy river banks where you can find prints and trough from belly sliding into the water.

European river otter european otter eurasian otter lutra lutra tracks in snow on partly frozen pond germany. They have five toes on their feet and short claws that give their prints a pointed look. Otters share many characteristics with their weasel family relatives. At the top are the tracks of a raccoon.

Close up of oriental small clawed otter amblonyx cinereus 5 years old lying in front of white background. European otter lutra lutra trail on snow and frozen lake at midwinter finland. 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.