River otters in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Most of us are conversant in the wildlife that roams the North Dakota prairie.

However take a more in-depth have a look at among the rivers and also you’ll discover a enjoyable furbearer species.

River otters are extra narrowly distributed in North Dakota, however they’re in all probability as broadly dispersed right now as they had been traditionally earlier than North Dakota was settled.

“Their main distribution is the Pink River Valley and its tributaries. They’ve additionally been discovered within the Mouse or Souris River complicated, the Missouri River, little Missouri complicated, among the different main rivers flowing into the Missouri River, just like the Cannonball and the Knife River has had some detections of river otters on them as effectively,” stated NDGF furbearer biologist Steph Tucker.

River otter populations in North Dakota are depending on sure varieties of habitats.

“They actually like riparian areas, streams and river corridors which have extra timber round them. And we’ve got plenty of prairie streams in North Dakota, and people prairie streams are very cyclic in nature the place they will have growth and bust water cycles and river otters simply want a bit bit extra consistency of their habitat from one yr to the following to have the ability to inhabit that stream or river hall or these ponds,” stated Tucker.

One other key element to their survival is meals.

“In order that they’re consuming reptiles, amphibians, fish, additionally plenty of crayfish, mussels,” stated Tucker.

There’s been a trapping season for river otters in North Dakota for the final 5 years as a result of their populations are secure and increasing into new areas.

“We have now opened a restricted regulated trapping season on them. Solely 25 river otters might be taken by trappers within the state beginning in late November when their fur is prime, and that useful resource is obtainable. After which the season stays open till that harvest restrict of 25 is met or March fifteenth, whichever comes first,” stated Tucker.

Should you occur to return a throughout a river otter, you’ll be able to report it by calling Recreation and Fish or on-line on the Division’s web site.

“That helps us maintain monitor of the river otter distribution within the state and the place they’re shifting to and new areas they might be increasing in. The opposite principal means we maintain monitor of river otter inhabitants developments, whether or not the inhabitants goes up and down is definitely via the assistance of these trappers. And most significantly, it goes right into a inhabitants mannequin that tells us if that inhabitants is trending upward or downward or secure,” stated Tucker.

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