North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) is in the Mustelids family (Mustelidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 23,790 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph North American River Otter: observations by month (U.S.)
About North American River Otter
The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. An adult river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
North American River Otter by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5,790 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Washington | 2,542 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Florida | 2,450 | January | Nov–Jun |
| Texas | 1,519 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Oregon | 1,175 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Minnesota | 1,094 | April | Mar–Feb |
| North Carolina | 901 | February | Sep–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 695 | December | Nov–Oct |
| Virginia | 690 | March | Sep–Jul |
| Maryland | 625 | April | Nov–May |
| Alaska | 457 | May | Nov–Sep |
| Vermont | 457 | March | Sep–Apr |
| Tennessee | 422 | October | Sep–Aug |
| New York | 403 | March | Sep–Jul |
| Georgia | 334 | December | Aug–Apr |
| Michigan | 302 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Wisconsin | 284 | August | Mar–Jan |
| Alabama | 269 | February | Aug–May |
| South Carolina | 269 | February | Sep–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 261 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Maine | 243 | August | Dec–Oct |
| Louisiana | 242 | February | Jul–Apr |
| Ohio | 239 | January | Aug–Jun |
| Wyoming | 198 | September | May–Oct |
| Missouri | 163 | May | Apr–Mar |
| New Jersey | 162 | February | Oct–May |
| Mississippi | 137 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Pennsylvania | 133 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Colorado | 122 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Kentucky | 121 | October | Sep–Mar |
| Illinois | 116 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Indiana | 113 | January | Dec–Oct |
| Arkansas | 90 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 88 | November | Oct–Sep |
| Idaho | 86 | October | Mar–Dec |
| West Virginia | 83 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Montana | 69 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Arizona | 68 | January | Jan–Apr |
| Connecticut | 66 | December | Oct–Apr |
| Iowa | 58 | March | Sep–Apr |
| Delaware | 56 | April | Sep–Apr |
| New Mexico | 50 | October | Oct–Feb |
| Rhode Island | 34 | March | Jan–Apr |
| Kansas | 33 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Utah | 32 | April | Apr–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 16 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Nebraska | 12 | May | Mar–Aug |
| South Dakota | 9 | May | May–May |
| Nevada | 8 | April | Mar–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Mustelids)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph North American River Otter?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from December to November.
Where is North American River Otter most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Florida.