River Otter
Lontra canadensis
Appearance
range & habitat
reciprocal relationships
River otters also help maintain balance in our ecosystem. They are carnivores, and some of their favorite foods are fish and crawfish. Since they also spend time on land, river otters can also eat birds, reptiles, insects and even an occasional rabbit. River otters are eaten by eagles, bears, and wolves thus playing an important part in the food chain.
Additionally, river otters are an indicator that a body of water is healthy and not polluted. Thankfully, river otters are not currently considered an at-risk species. However, one of the most pressing risks for this species is human-induced pollution, which can get worse if more pipeline projects are approved for their home in the Georgia Straight.
kū’cta-qa or Kushtaka is a land-otter man depicted in stories from the Tlingit people. In some stories, Kushtaka provides aid and guidance to struggling fishermen, and in some stories, they trick people into drowning.