Focus on nature: Wisconsin’s fun-loving river otters

Winter is one of the best times of the year to look for and see river otters, especially this winter because it has been warm enough that some water areas remain open. In fact, Sue Kartman recently saw an otter on Sailor Creek Flowage near Fifield. Look for them along the shores of rivers and streams near open water. Otters are secretive and difficult to find other times of year because they blend in so well with their environment. But, when you do see them, be ready to see some fun-loving animals!

Otters are known as playful animals often wrestling or spending hours sliding down muddy or snow-packed stream banks as seen in the photo. They like to play with each other and the prey they catch. Speaking of prey, they like to eat an aquatic menu of frogs, salamanders, fish, crayfish and other aquatic animals, but their favorite food by far are fish. They usually hunt these prey in the water from along the banks of streams, rivers, marshes, ponds, and lakes. A family group usually requires about three square miles of defended territory to get enough food for all its members but may range up to 25 miles a week within their territory looking for food.