disturbing facts about otters

In this post, well talk about why otters are evil and why they arent the cuddlers they appear to be. A 2010 paper talked about 19 cases, including a particularly gruesome instance where a sea otter bit a pup's face, held it underwater, and copulated with it for over an hour until it died. The mammals like to keep things organized within their communities and will designate certain areas to be used as latrines. It shouldnt be surprising to learn that otters will force themselves on other animals. When a pup is small, the mother will hold it on her belly to keep it from floating away. Male otters' mating techniques are violent. 1. They are carnivores with a diet that includes a wide range of marine animals. For example, they may harbor bacteria responsible for leptospirosis, a disease that can cause severe illness in both animals and humans. As natural predators of fish, otters can consume significant quantities of fish, causing a decline in available stocks and potential economic losses for local communities. Find out if you are a sea otter specialist by checking your info against these fascinating sea otter facts. This impact on fisheries can be particularly significant in areas with already vulnerable fish populations, where otters predation can further destabilize the ecosystem. The otter has a lithe and slender body with short legs, a strong neck, and a long flattened tail that helps propel the animal gracefully through water. This means. It is the longest of the otter species. They have webbed feet and the ability to close their nose and ears underwater.Twelve out of thirteen otter species are in decline. Langley, Liz. But with their numbers hovering around just a few thousand, researchers have kept a close eye on the population and their studies have revealed an interesting social structure. They rape baby seals and hold each others pups hostage for food. The transmission of these diseases and parasites from them to other animals or humans is a significant concern for conservation and public health officials. They can also close their small ears and nose when under water. They also sometimes intertwine their feet with another sea otter, so that they stay together. Re-introduction attempts have been successful and have seen promising outcomes in terms of species survival, population growth, and overall improved environmental quality. 28 . UC Davis, 2019. Otters have many long, stiff sensitive hairs ('vibrassae') that frame the snout: these help the otter to locate prey. "Otter Species." Wildlife managers must consider not only the direct impact of otter populations on ecosystems but also the indirect consequences of disease spread. For one thing, sea otters murder other animals even when they don't get food out of it, just for fun or something. Their construction activities can lead to the erosion of riverbanks, the destruction of vegetation, and the alteration of water flow in the surrounding area. Otters are often thought of as cute, cuddly creatures, but there are some disturbing facts about these animals that many people don't know. Lohan, Katrina and Karen McDonald. Sea otters nearly went extinct in the early 1900s because of the fur trade. The biological name is Lontra Canadensis. It makes its home in a burrow near the water's edge, and can thrive in river, lake, swamp, or estuary ecosystems. The layers manage to trap air next to the otter's skin, which keeps the otters dry and warm and also helps with buoyancy. There are around 13 extant species, out of which some of them are aquatic, semiaquatic, and marine, and their diet mainly consists of fish and invertebrates. There has been at least one report of a male otter copulating and swimming with deceased female otters. otters can infect humans with the H1N1 virus. Legend has it they save human lives on occasion: But there comes a point at which rational people have to put adorable hijinks aside and recognize otters for what they are: disease-ridden, murderous, necrophilic aqua-weasels whose treachery knows few bounds. They do it all on their own, with no help from the fathers. For example, the United States has The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 which protects the from any type of hunting or trapping. Yes, they can act as carriers for various parasites and pathogens, some of which can potentially infect other animals or even humans. In water as warm as 10 C (50 F), an otter needs to catch 100 g (3.5 oz) of fish per hour to survive. German zoologist and botanist Georg Wilhelm Steller was the first to scientifically describe numerous new animals on the 1741 explorative voyage from Russia. While this predatory behavior is a natural part of their existence, it can sometimes have detrimental effects on their ecosystems. Sliding Behavior in Nearctic River Otters: Locomotion or Play?Northeastern Naturalist, vol. Rape or, as biologists usually call it, "forced copulation" is a disturbing fact of life in the animal kingdom. Interestingly, otters dont get sick when they have the flu. How this animal can survive is a mystery. Young pups are born helpless, and remain in the . Most otters have sharp claws at the end of each toe, which helps them to grab prey. Otters can hold their breath for 3-4 minutes, closing their nostrils and ears to keep out water. Keeping an eye on otters in the wild is a tricky task. They gorge on more than 100 different prey species. They also use body language and scent marking to communicate ownership and boundaries. This frog will kill you with a single touch. They have long, narrow bodies, with long tails and short legs. In addition, several international conventions and protocols have been developed over time to help protect these creatures from extinction. Otter groups go by a few different monikers, all of which are fairly unique to that crew. Otters impact on fisheries is a contentious issue that has led to tensions between conservationists and fishing communities. Predatory behavior towards non-prey species can lead to imbalances in the food chain and can cause unintended consequences for other species in the ecosystem. They also take over the riverbank dens of foxes, badgers, and rabbits. Giant otters average a weight of around 75 pounds but some have been noticed to be over six feet long. Weve mentioned these species worst behaviors, but did you know that there have been numerous reports of otters harming humans that they come in contact with? Otters have webbed feet and claws - for swimming underwater. When faced with a threat, they wont hesitate to use their powerful teeth and strong jaws to inflict serious injury. Without sea otters, the urchin population booms and destroys the kelp forest habitat. The barbs on each hair strand hold in place the air bubbles that the otters blow into their pelts while groomingwhich they can spend up to five hours doing each day. Thirteen otter species slide down riverbanks, juggle rocks, and float on their backs in watersheds on five continents. Otters have long been admired for their playful antics and endearing appearance. This adds an additional layer of complexity to the already challenging task of maintaining balanced ecosystems. U.S. Department of the Interior. But are otters really as sweet as we think they are, or are otters evil? They eat up to 9 pounds of food in a day and their sharp teeth and powerful tail let them swim fast when they are hunting and can even confront caiman or other enormous, Giant river otters hunt in a group of nine and hunt together, and also store food, giving them the nickname "lobos de ro" or ", Smart Animals: Sea Otters Used Tools Even Before Dolphins and Humans Did, Study Says, Giant Otters Used to Be Fearsome Hunters in Ancient China, Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Large Hail Threaten 15 Million Residents in Texas, Antarctica During Dinosaur Era Ravaged by Frequent Forest Fires [Study], Air Pollution Kills 1200 Children Yearly, European Study Says, $20k Reward Money Up For Finding Boat Operator Who Drove Over California Sea Lions in the Columbia River, Virtual Reality Reduces the Use of Sedatives During Surgery. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the young are in the water by 10 weeks of age. All otter species appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and only one is listed as "least concern." Nonetheless, it is another reminder that you should stay away from these vicious beasts. As this is a new development in biology, further research is needed to determine precisely how this species started to host the virus. Within their social groups, otters exhibit a behavior known as alloparenting, where individuals other than the parents help raise the young. 241244. Asian Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus) - Native to South China and India, and Southeast . Despite regulations designed to protect them, many species remain at risk from pollution and habitat loss. Sea Otters Eat 25 Percent of Their Body Weight Every Day. For whatever reason, Pokmon Sun and Moon seem to have the most depressing Pokdex entries to date, and Komala is no exception: it's simply never awake, Sun tells us . . Males, in particular, are known to take a female otters food by threatening to kill her baby. Their furry coats, innocent eyes, and tiny paws make them adorable little creatures. Educating the public about wildlife conservation and habitat protection is one of the most effective ways to promote conservation efforts. All rights reserved. North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. She is the author of "The Ethiopian Wolf: Hope at the Edge of Extinction. Conservation efforts are in place to protect and preserve these species, but more is needed to ensure their long-term survival. The otters, which need to consume 25 percent to 35 percent of their body weight every day in order to maintain their metabolism and keep themselves warm in the cool waters, are divided into three "dietary guilds": Deep-diving otters that dine on abalone, urchins, and Dungeness crab; medium divers who subsist on clams, worms, and smaller shellfish; and those that stay in shallower waters, feeding on black snails. Giant otters average a weight of around 75 pounds but some have been noticed to be over six feet long. International Otter Survival Fund. How do we reverse the trend? Second, otters can give you H1N1, better known as "swine flu," as our friends at The Verge have reported. The kelp acts like an anchor and prevents them from floating out to the open ocean. Forceful mating practices are a disturbing aspect of otter behavior that highlights the darker side of their seemingly innocent and playful appearance. "Sea Otters." They tuck prey into pockets of loose skin under their arms and use rocks as tools to open shellfish. Hairy-Nosed Otters Are a Lazarus Species, 9. Yes, as they build their dens, they can cause significant changes to their environment. Or a family or a raft. Otters won't act naturally with humans nearby, and using a telescope on a boat can get tricky in the rollicking ocean. Strange as it may seem, mating is a relatively common cause of death for female sea otters as well. First, male otters sometimes hold pups ransom to force their mothers to give up some of their food. They rely on all that fur to trap a layer of air against the surface of their skin, and their fur is perfectly designed to do so because it's dense and spiky. 12, no. Otters are part of the Mustelidae family, which is a family of carnivorous mammals that includes skunks, weasels, wolverines, and badgers. Interestingly, otters dont get sick when they have the flu. Others believe that this behavior may be a result of human disturbances to sea otter populations, which can cause stress and impact their social behavior. This rediscovery, after presumed extinction, makes them a Lazarus species. Here's how biologists Heidi Pearson and Randall Davis describe it: A male approached a pup floating on the surface while its mother was diving for food. However, even within these communal groups, otters still exhibit territorial behavior and establish dominance hierarchies, highlighting the importance of resource control in their survival. Sea Otter Savvy. In fact, females havedisproportionately higher rates of fatality explained by the vicious mating ritual. Link, Russell. Unfortunately the number of tea-trees is diminishing. They're merciless hellspawn who use their intellects for great evil. That thick coat is needed because otters are the only marine mammal without a blubber layer for insulation. Theres no doubt that otters are cute animals. So instead, they dropped the pup in with the female otter, and she immediately went into mom mode. Otters have as many as 2.6 million hairs per square inch. Baby ones raised in captivity squeak when introduced to water for the first time. March 28, 2023 by Wilson Singleton. That makes it about a thousand times more dense than human hair. Boyle, Steve. Tags As the sea otter thrust his pelvis, his penis was extruded and intromission was observed. Their droppings are known as spraints and can be identified by an odour that is said to range from musky mown hay to jasmine tea to rotting fish. That amount of calories is insane because that is three times what an average human needs. As we delve deeper into their behavior and life in the wild, you may be surprised to learn that these seemingly adorable animals have a darker side. They get their needed water and sustenance from eating eucalyptus leaves. That's right, the adorable mammals have been known to exhibit necrophilia, even with members of different species, such as baby seals. Baby otters usually are called pups. Scientists suspect otters may even be able to determine the sex, age, and reproductive status of the spraint dropper just from a quick whiff. It is known as the common otter or northern river otter. Undisputedly, otters are one of nature's wonders that are particularly friendly-looking and cute, even having their charismatic gestures capable of stimulating dopamine hormone in the human body. The forceful mating practices of otters also have implications for conservation efforts. You bet they do! On average, river species can live up to 8-9 years in the wild, while sea species can live up to 10-15 years. Otters have been around for at least 5 million years. Source: 14 Fascinating, Super-Disturbing Facts About The Human Body. Male otters have developed a bad habit of humping and fatally wounding baby seals in their desperation to mate, sometimes continuing to have sex with the seals up to a week after killing them.. Fruit Fly Swarms Are Really Just Massive Orgies "How to Tell the Difference Between Sea Otters and River Otters." National Park Service, 2016. This may sound disturbing, but is successful. Because of their high metabolic rates, as was already mentioned, these creatures require a lot of food and will use whatever methods are needed to get it. These injuries can be so deep that they result in the females death. It may be tempting to try and pet the cute and. Allison, Mari-Lisa, et al. Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, edited by John H. Steele, Second Edition, 2008, pp. For the record, I'm not actually against attempts to save sea otters as a species. Read our about page! Despite spending most of their time in the water, #4 Otters Will Force Themselves on Other Animals. This law is enforced by the U.S. This pace is three times faster than the average human swimmer. They are skilled hunters, feeding on a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Facts about River Otters talk about an animal, which can be found on the coasts or waterways of North America. Unlike other weasels, otters are semi-aquatic. Additionally, some fish species may prey on their younglings. Thirteen otter species slide down riverbanks, juggle rocks, and float on their backs in watersheds on five continents. Female otters have a disproportionately higher mortality rate than males, and experts attribute this to their gruesome mating ritual. They eat up to 9 pounds of food in a day and their sharp teeth and powerful tail let them swim fast when they are hunting and can even confront caiman or other enormous Amazon creatures if the need arises. Komala - Generation VII. Mothers groom pups and blow air into the clean coat to create buoyancy. Depending on how hungry they are and how much they have access to food, otters arent too picky with their meals! Unfortunately, it gets worse. Not so cute anymore, are they? At six months, the pups are released back into the wild with generally strong results. Otters are adorable creatures that live both on land and in the water. Swimming ability is further enhanced in most species by four webbed feet. Some otters hold the female's heads underwater during intercourse to force submission. The giant otter is an endangered species found in South America, primarily along the Amazon river and the Pantanal. Here's Harris again: Copulation normally occurs in the water where the male sea otter will approach the female from behind, grip her around the chest with his forepaws, and grasp her nose or the side of her face with his teeth.Facial biting by the male commonly results in the development of skin and soft tissue lacerations of the female's nose and face that can occasionally be fatal.The problem is worse for females, of course, but younger males often mimic mating behavior with each other, which can cause similar injuries.

Why Have I Received A Cheque From Dvla, Articles D