North American River Otter
(Lontra canadensis)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
LC - Least Concern
NatureServe
not listed
N5 - Secure
SNR - Unranked
Minnesota
not listed
Description
The pelage (fur) is dark brown above, a little lighter below, with a white a grayish or silvery throat.
Size
Total length: 35″ to 48″
Head and body: 26″ to 30″
Tail: 12″ to 17″
Sign
Similar Species
American Mink (Neovison vison) is much smaller, no more than 27½″ in length including the tail.
Habitat
Mostly lakes, streams, and ponds, but also swamps and marshes.
Ecology
Behavior
Lifespan
8 to 9 years
Life Cycle
Food
Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 12/17/2025). Timm, R. M. 1975. Distribution, natural history, and parasites of mammals of Cook County, Minnesota. Occasional Papers, Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota 14:1–56. Hazard, Evan B. 1982. The Mammals of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 280 pp. |
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| 12/17/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy
Class
Subclass
Theria
Infraclass
Placentalia (Placental Mammals)
Magnorder
Boreoeutheria
Superorder
Laurasiatheria (Ungulates, Carnivorans, and Allies)
Order
Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Suborder
Caniformia (Dog-like Carnivores)
Infraorder
Arctoidea
Parvorder
Mustelida
Family
Mustelidae (Mustelids)
Subfamily
Lutrinae (Otters)
Genus
Lontra (New World River Otters)
Genus
This species was originally named Lutra canadensis. In 1972, New World otters were separated into the genus Lontra.
Subordinate Taxa
Haida Gwaii River Otter (Lontra canadensis periclyzomae)
Kodiak Island River Otter (Lontra canadensis kodiacensis)
Northeastern River Otter (Lontra canadensis canadensis) 
Prince of Wales River Otter (Lontra canadensis mira)
Southeastern River Otter (Lontra canadensis lataxina)
Southwestern River Otter (Lontra canadensis sonora)
Vancouver River Otter (Lontra canadensis vancouverensis)
Western River Otter (Lontra canadensis pacifica)
Synonyms
Lutra canadensis
Common Names
Canadian Otter
North American River Otter
Northern River Otter
River Otter
Glossary
Pelage
The coat of a mammal, consisting of fur, wool, or hair, and including a soft undercoat and stiff guard hairs.
Visitor Photos
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Craig Palmer |
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Christa Rittberg |
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Observed at Fort Snelling State Park. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
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Slideshows
Otter
Andree Reno Sanborn
Visitor Videos
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Other Videos
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Visitor Sightings
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Karen
5/20/2025
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN
He walked right through my front yard, into the backyard. Was very surprised to see a River Otter, 10 miles outside of downtown Minneapolis.
Erika Elfstrand
October 2023
Location: Wright County
Had heard from neighbors there were otters in this lake system.
Finally saw them in October 2023. The video is too large to send and we didn’t get photos.
Thanks!
Anthony
4/7/2023
Location: Plymouth MN
I saw the otter near a pond behind my house.
Pat G.
10/9/2022
Location: the pond behind my home in Shoreview
one was sighted, swimming in the pond
Linda
9/25/2022
Location: Ottertail, MN
Three river otters swimming together in a small lake near the town of Ottertail. They were doing a lot of diving but never saw them with a fish, so not sure if they were playing or hunting for fish. I believe they left the lake, ran across the road to another small lake and lost track of them. We have lived here for over 20 years and have only seen an otter two other times over the years. Was fun to watch them.
Kay
5/22/2022
Location: Minnetonka
An otter lives in the creek behind our house. We see him/her swim quickly toward the den in the evening.
Terry Sinner
4/5/2022
Location: Stearns County
I was driving with two friends to a knitting gathering near Luxembourg, MN, when we all saw what looked like 4 otters or fishers standing beside the road having a conference about topics unknown. They quickly ran into the south ditch as we approached. There was a \swampy area on the north side of the road. County 137 between County 6 and 47, south of Hwy. 94.
Are either of these animals in this area? We did not get any pictures.
John Valo
4/7/2022
Fishers prefer dense, continuous forests with large trees. They have not been recorded in Stearns County, but they have been seen in neighboring Benton County. Though the animals you saw could be either, it is more likely that they were northern river otters.
Lil Heiland
4/1/2022
Location: Golden Valley by Theodore Worth Park
James
11/13/2021
Location: 3rd Ave N & Ranchview Ln. N, Plymouth, MN
one came running throw back yard toward a small pond, was nice to see.
Craig Palmer
10/13/2021
Location: Moorhead, MN rendition pond
Dano
9/24/2019
Location: Crane Park refuge (Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge) by Little Falls MN.
there was a pair of them
Susan
5/31/2019
Location: Edina
The otter ran across 70th St heading south. This was East of 100 and West of France.
Kirk Nelson
5/12/2019
Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Long Meadow Lake Unit
About 5 or 6 were sitting on a log about 15 yards into the flooded area at the beginning of the Long Meadow Lake Trail, just below the Visitors’ Center. I barely had time to notice them before they slid into the water and swam away, so I couldn’t get a photo
Eric Hills
6/12/2018
Location: Big Lake Township
I was out walking the dog and saw it run thru the yard. The dog took after it and chased it into the tall grass around the swamp in our backyard. We live a couple of hundred yards off the Mississippi River. I couldn’t believe my eyes, Pretty awesome!
Marvin Schifsky
4/14/2018
Location: Washington County, MN (55082). Just south of co. Road 12, on Jamaca Avenue.
It was Huge! Nice to see. Did not think there were any in our area.
Dlg3
8/15/2017
Location: Plymouth/Minnetonka
crossing Hopkins crossroads during afternoon rush hour
Christa Rittberg
6/17/2017
Location: Observed at Fort Snelling State Park.
Minnesota Seasons Sightings
