River Otter Use of Coastal and Marine Systems in Carteret County, North Carolina

Abstract

The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semi-aquatic mammal known for its generalist nature; it can occupy a wide variety of watershed ecosystems and consume many different prey types. However, there is a distinct lack of research surrounding river otter use of brackish and saltwater ecosystems found along ocean coasts. In this study, we sought to analyze river otter sightings in Carteret County, North Carolina to see if any spatial use patterns emerged. We distributed forms to Carteret County citizens through mail, as well as through support from local waterfront businesses, allowing them to report sightings by location, time, and nature. Sightings varied wildly: some otters were seen swimming and eating in saltwater ecosystems at various times of day, while others were found deceased in human-trafficked areas. There was also no observable pattern in otter groupings in sightings, as some were found individually while others were spotted in groups. We hope that this study serves as a basis for future, more extensive research into river otter behavior in coastal areas.