The Otter

A river otter enjoys his meal.

        This  great  fish-hunter  inhabited  the  river-banks  of  many  countries,  and  was  usually  much  hated for  the  damage  it  did  to  the  river-folk in the past.  In  England, long ago,  otter-hunting  was  a national  sport.  A  pack  of  wire-haired  shaggy  hounds  would swim  or  wade  in  the stream,  while  terriers  ran  along  the  bank  to  start  the  game.  Hunters  with long  poles  followed  on  foot,  and  the  poor  beast  was  chased  until  it  was  brought  to bay.
       The  otter  still is both cunning  and  brave.  You will often see it fighting  desperately  for  its  life  or  cubs. Its  body  is  long  and  very  supple,  and  its  fur  is  of  a  fine  texture.  On  land  it makes  a  good  stand  against  its  enemies,  but  in  the  water  it  is  a  match  for  anything its own size.     The  otter,  if  taken  while  young,  is  easily  tamed. Some  years  ago  a  Scottish  gentleman  owned  an  otter,  which  he  taught  to catch  fish  at  his  command.  The  otter  would  take  not  only  salmon  from  the river,  but  it  would  take  cod  out  of  the  sea,  swimming  bravely  through  the waves  in  search  of  prey.  When  it  got  tired,  nothing  would  induce  it  to  go into  the  water  again.     It  was  always  given  part  of  the  fish  as  a  reward,  and then  it  would  fall  down  asleep,  and  have  to  be  carried  home.  This  animal became  so  tame  that  if  it  was  frightened  it  would  rush  to  its  master  for safety.
       There was also an  otter  in  the  London  Zoo who  had  two  little  cubs,  which  had  fallen  into  a tank  full  of  water.  Although  they  could  swim  splendidly,  there  was  danger  of their  being  drowned  when  they  got  tired.  The  mother  otter  made  an  attempt to  get  them  out  by  reaching  down  from  the  top.  At  last,  however,  she  got into  the  tank  herself,  and  making  a  natural  bridge  of  her  back  and  fore-paws,  the  youngsters  were  able  to  scramble  up  in  safety.
       The  river  otter  may still be spied in the wild  and  anyone  who  is  willing  to  spend  an hour  or  so  sitting  perfectly  still  near  a  shaded  woodland  stream,  may  see  the cunning  creature  busily  searching  for  prey.  The  length  of  the  otter's  body  is about  two  feet,  and,  including  the  tail,  nearly  three  feet.

The  Sea  Otter  is  nearly  twice  the  size  of  the  land  otter.
It  lives  on  the Northern  Pacific  coast,  and may be seen  
feeding  entirely  on  sea  fish  and  what it  can  pick  up  on
  the  shore.

Otto The Otter

Otto The Otter's Favorite Story

      Otto the otter was born in a hole in the riverbank. It was not just any kind of hole that happened to be there, but a fine made-on-purpose hole that Father and Mother Otter had dug themselves. It was high enough above the water so that it was warm and dry, but the doorway was at the end of a long tunnel and opened right into the river.
       That underwater doorway worried Otto. How could he get out of an underwater doorway unless he knew how to swim? But how could he learn to swim if he stayed home? Whenever he asked his mother about it, she said, "Wait and see." But one day she said something different. She said, "You're old enough now to find out. Climb on my back, and whatever happens, don't let go."
       Otto climbed on his mother's back, and off she went down the tunnel. She went so fast that Otto didn't have time to think. One minute he was in the tunnel and the next he was in the water. And the next he was out of the water and up on top of the riverbank.
       There was a warm brightness roundabout that made him feel good. "That is sunshine," explained his mother. Young Otto liked sunshine, but what he really wanted was to learn to swim, and he said so.
       "Wait a bit," said his mother. "Watch your father and me till you see how it's done. You weren't born knowing how to swim, even if you were born wanting to know."
       Father Otter came just then and began playing with his son. Otto thought that was great fun and never guessed that Father was testing the baby muscles to see if they were strong and healthy.
       "Now watch me," said Father, "and you'll see some fun."
       He went over to a place on the bank that was as slick as wet fish. It was slick because Father and Mother had been sliding on it with their slick wet bodies. He tucked his front feet beneath his tummy, gave a push with his hind feet, and -- whee-ee -- down the slippery slick slide he went lickety-cut.
       He was back up on the bank again in no time. Then it was Mother Otter's turn. She tucked her front feet beneath her tummy, gave a push with her hind feet, and -- whee-ee -- down the slippery slick slide she went lickety-cut.
       Otto thought that looked like even more fun than swimming. He edged closer and closer to the slide so that he could see exactly how it was done. He got closer and closer - and he put just one foot on one corner of that slippery slick slide, just to see how it felt. And then --whoosh! His feet shot out from under him and he turned a flip-flop in the air and came down on the slickest part of that slippery slick slide. Down he went into the water --kersplash! 

       Quick as a flash Mother Otter was beside him, no, beneath him. She came up under him and had him safe on her back before he could say gulp.

       When she was sure he was all right, she said, "Now that you're in the water, you might as well learn to swim. Kick your feet now. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. That's it. I'll be right here to hold you up."

       Little Otto struck out bravely. One, two, three, four. He wasn't the least bit afraid, because he was sure that his mother was holding him up. But clever Mrs. Otter had other plans. She kept sinking lower and lower into the water. Soon she wasn't holding him up at all. He was really swimming by himself, and he didn't know it!

       At last Mother Otter turned quickly and came up to the surface beside Otto. He was so surprised to see her that he almost stopped swimming.

       "Keep kicking," cautioned his mother. "One, two, three, four."

       She sounded so encouraging that Otto began kicking with all his might, his feet churning the water like four little paddles.

       Just then Father Otter came along.

       "Look, Father, I'm swimming all by myself," Otto cried. I'm going to go swimming every day of my life."

        And so he did. He became one of the best swimmers on the river, and one of the best fishermen, too. 

 A river otter named Buddy is rescued.

Read More About Otters:

• One Otterly Adorable Character
• Get to know the keepers of the kelp forests
• Second Chances: Tilly the river otter
• Sea otter gets adopted...