Eat, swim, and play. That is a typical day for Sailor, one of the North American river otters at the Seneca Park Zoo. Sailor is sixteen years old. His exact birthday isn’t known because he was born in the wild, but it is still celebrated at the end of winter. He came to the Seneca Park Zoo when he was six years old in 2012 from Alligator Adventure Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina—a long trip! He and his friend Ashkii are the only otters at the Seneca Park Zoo.
North American river otters are found throughout Canada and the United States along rivers and near streams or lakes that are bordered by woods and wetlands.
Sailor was named in honor of another otter at the zoo who, unfortunately, passed away, called Admiral. He got his name for flipping onto a black rubber tub and paddling it like a boat captain or admiral. The zookeepers decided to continue the ship theme, and that’s how Sailor got his name.
Sailor gets three meals a day—fish for the morning and afternoon and ground meat for his third meal. North American river otters are piscivores. This means they primarily eat fish. They will also eat small mammals, reptiles, birds, and occasionally fruits and vegetables, too. In addition to his three meals, Sailor also gets plenty of snacks and The North American river otter can’t wait for your visit! This includes clams, scallops, shrimp, soft-shell crab, squid, and even hard-boiled eggs.
Two important features that help Sailor in his environment are his tail and double-fur coat. The North American river otter’s tail is very strong and muscular and almost a third of its body length! It acts like a rudder on a boat to help propel and steer in the water. Their double coat is made up of guard hairs on the outside that helps the soft undercoat stay dry and warm when they are in the cold water. It also traps air bubbles that you can see when Sailor swims underwater.
Some cool fun facts about these cute mammals are that they can dive up to sixty feet, swim up to twelve miles per hour, and hold their breath for up to four minutes! They also have a wide range of sounds they use to communicate like whistles, yelps, growls, screams, and even body posture; they sometimes stand on their hind legs on land.
The best time to visit Sailor is right when the zoo opens at 10 a.m. This is because North American river otters are crepuscular, which means they are more active at dusk and dawn or right when the sun sets and rises. No matter the time, though, Sailor can’t wait for you to stop by and visit him at the Seneca Park Zoo!
PARENTS:
This article about Sailor is a great way for kids to learn about the North American river otter. Use this article as a base of discussion for your children. Below are some questions and activities for your family.
Q: What kinds of places can you find North American river otters in the wild? Activity: Search online or at a library to find out the natural habitats of these animals.
Q: What is the purpose of the North American river otter’s double fur coat? Activity: Do some research and make a list of all the ways these mammals’ double fur coat helps them.
Q: What is the North American river otter’s diet? Activity: Our article mentions some things that river otters like to eat. Search online or at the library to find other food these cute creatures eat. Can your child draw some of these items?
Q: What kinds of noises do North American river otter’s make? Activity: Look online for a video of river otters making noises. Make a list of other animals that might make the same sounds. Can your child mimic these sounds?