Otters return to western N.C.

River otters were among the most widely distributed mammals statewide and across America until European settlers began trapping them and exporting their pelts.

By the late 1800s and early 1900s, river otters had disappeared from much of their historic range. Populations in the coastal region survived, likely due to the abundance of food and the inaccessibility of large swamps to hunters and trappers.

By the late 1930s, river otters had become virtually extinct in western North Carolina. To restore otters to their former range, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission released 49 river otters in the western part of the state from 1990-1995. Release sites included the Yadkin River in Wilkes County.

The commission says that due to these efforts, the otter population is now fully restored and considered abundant throughout North Carolina.

River otters feed primarily on fish and crayfish, but also consume crabs, amphibians and a variety of other aquatic prey species. Dens are often bank burrows vacated by other animals, but may also be in log jams, natural cavities or thick vegetation.

River otters are considered an important fur-bearer species and they can be harvested during the open trapping season. Otters are considered important for reducing undesirable fish populations that compete for food with cold-water game fish.

Due to their curious nature and their near-sightedness, it isn’t uncommon for river otters to approach a boat or person on shore.