Prothonotary Warblers are probably the biggest celebrities here at Beidler Forest. People come from across the country just to see them during the spring and they are essentially our mascot here, but we have other celebrities here too. When we tell visitors to be on the lookout for otters, we often see their eyes light up with excitement, and when visitors return from the boardwalk after seeing one, they often have lots of videos and photos of the otters lounging, playing, foraging, and munching on crawfish.
There are many species of otters across the world, but the species we have here is the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis). Adult River Otters average around 2-3.5ft long and typically weigh 18-25 lbs., with males typically being larger than females.
The otters at Beidler eat a variety of foods such as fish, snails, freshwater mussels, crawfish, turtles, and snakes. Underwater they primarily hunt using their sense of touch. Their whiskers are actually very sensitive feelers that they use to feel around in holes and crevices for prey and avoid obstacles while they hunt for food.
In the past otters were hunted for their dense waterproof fur and their populations greatly declined. Otters also had to contend with habitat destruction and pollution decreasing the populations of their prey species. Otter populations recovered after the passing of many environmental protection laws during the second half of the 20th century. This was mainly due to the increasing health of their habitats leading to higher populations of their food species. However, with the recent rollback of protections under the Clean Water Act, many of the freshwater habitats that they live in are once again under threat of pollution and habitat destruction.
Otters are beloved by many people around the world. Not only are they cute looking, but are also very charismatic and intelligent animals. I think a lot of people can relate to them when they see one taking a nap in the sun or munching on their favorite food. When you get to cross paths with them in the swamp it truly does feel like a magical experience.
