The best time to see River Otters in Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors region is during the winter months when they are often playing on ice jams or along the banks of waterways. Their dark fur stands out against the white of winter. One of the best places to see otters is along the Wild & Scenic Clarion River.

The North American river otter a semiaquatic mammal that lives only along North American waterways. An adult otter can weigh between 11 and 30 pounds. It is protected and insulated by a thick water-repellent coat of fur. Otters are a member of the weasel family and are equally versatile in the water and on land. Otters have long whiskers that are used to detect prey in dark waters. Its body length ranges from 24 to 40 inches. About one-third of an otter’s total length consists of a long, tapered tail with lengths ranging from 12 to 20 inches. Otters are renowned for their sense of play.

In early spring, expectant mothers begin to look for a den where they can give birth. The female otters do not dig their own dens; instead, they rely on other animals, such as beavers, to provide suitable environments to raise their offspring. They establish a burrow close to the water’s edge of a river, lake, or swamp. The den typically has many tunnel openings, one of which generally allows the otter to enter and exit the body of water. Female North American river otters give birth in these burrows, producing litters of one to six young known as kits. Fish are their favorite food, but they also consume various amphibians, freshwater clams, mussels, snails, small turtles, and crayfish. River otters will occasionally eat other small animals, such as mice, squirrels, and birds.

Learn more about where to see the abundant wildlife in Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors region on online at VisitPAGO.com