What Otters Eat:
Otters are carnivores, meaning they primarily eat meat. Their diet varies depending on the species and location, but generally includes:
Fish: This is the staple of most otter diets, including salmon, trout, eels, and other fish.
Crustaceans: Crabs, shrimp, lobsters, and crayfish are popular prey.
Mollusks: Otters often pry open clams, oysters, and mussels with their strong teeth and paws.
Insects: Some species, especially river otters, will eat insects like dragonfly larvae.
Amphibians: Frogs, salamanders, and tadpoles are occasionally on the menu.
Small Mammals: Otters may also catch and eat small mammals like rodents, birds, and even young deer.
Sea Otters: Sea otters, due to their marine environment, have a diet primarily focused on shellfish, particularly sea urchins, abalone, and clams. They also consume crabs, mussels, and fish.
Note: Otters' eating habits can vary greatly based on the season and availability of their preferred prey.
What Eats Otters:
Otters, while fierce predators themselves, are not immune to being preyed upon. Their predators vary depending on the otter species and location:
Bears: Both brown and black bears are known to prey on otters, especially in areas where their ranges overlap.
Wolves: Wolves can be a threat to otters, especially in areas where both species inhabit the same territories.
Large Fish: Larger fish like pike and catfish can sometimes attack otters, especially young or injured ones.
Sharks: Sea otters face threats from sharks, particularly great white sharks.
Orcas: Orcas are a significant predator of sea otters in some areas.
Humans: Otter populations are also impacted by human activities like habitat loss, pollution, and hunting.
Other Otters: In some cases, otters might compete with each other for food, and larger or more aggressive individuals can sometimes attack and kill smaller ones.
It's important to remember that these are just some of the animals that may prey on otters, and the specific threats vary depending on the location and species of otter.