Animal identifier ยท Other mammals
Lontra canadensis
Rivers, lakes, and coasts across much of the continent, including places where they were reintroduced. Five-toed tracks about 2.5 to 3.5 inches, webbed.
What does a north american river otter look like?
Long brown body, thick tail that is broad at the base, small ears.
What do north american river otter tracks look like?
The slide is the field mark. Webbed five-toed prints connect the slides along a bank.
- Five-toed tracks about 2.5 to 3.5 inches, webbed
- A slide: a trough 6 to 8 inches wide in snow or mud
- Paired loping prints between slides
- Tail drag sometimes shows
- Droppings are fishy smears on a rock or log at the water
What does north american river otter poop look like?
Fish scales, crayfish, and a sharp smell, left on a prominent rock or log. A latrine site gets reused. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Rivers, lakes, and coasts across much of the continent, including places where they were reintroduced. Typical places: wetland. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not handle droppings
- If the animal is injured or inside a building, call a local wildlife officer
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- American mink identification
- North American beaver identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
What do river otter tracks look like?
Webbed five-toed prints connected by a belly slide in snow or mud.
What does otter poop look like?
A fishy smear or pile with scales, left on a waterside rock.
How to tell a north american river otter from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- American mink. Follows the water. Long dark brown body, white chin patch, no pale bib like a marten.
- North American beaver. Look for the webbed hind print and the tail drag in mud. Brown, flat scaly tail, webbed hind feet.
North American river otter field marks
- Five-toed tracks about 2.5 to 3.5 inches, webbed
- A slide: a trough 6 to 8 inches wide in snow or mud
- Paired loping prints between slides
- Tail drag sometimes shows
Where the sign shows up
Rivers, lakes, and coasts across much of the continent, including places where they were reintroduced. Typical places: wetland. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
The slide is the field mark. Webbed five-toed prints connect the slides along a bank. Fish scales, crayfish, and a sharp smell, left on a prominent rock or log. A latrine site gets reused.
Common questions
What do river otter tracks look like?
Webbed five-toed prints connected by a belly slide in snow or mud.
What does otter poop look like?
A fishy smear or pile with scales, left on a waterside rock.