OTTERS: Did you know river otters make their home in the Pennsylvania Wilds?

According to the Visit PA Go blog, the best place to see them is along the Clarion River, and the best time is during the winter, when there’s some snow and ice on the ground.

“They are often playing on ice jams or along the banks of waterways,” the blog notes. “Their dark fur stands out against the white of winter.”

“The North American river otter is a semiaquatic mammal that lives only along North American waterways. An adult otter can weigh between 11 and 30 pounds,” the blog notes.

“It is protected and insulated by a thick water-repellent coat of fur. Otters are a member of the weasel family and are equally versatile in the water and on land. Otters have long whiskers that are used to detect prey in dark waters. Its body length ranges from 24 to 40 inches. About one-third of an otter’s total length consists of a long, tapered tail with lengths ranging from 12 to 20 inches. Otters are renowned for their sense of play.”

According to the National Wildlife Federation, they can thrive in any water habitat, such as ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers and estuaries, as long as there is adequate food.

“River otters eat a variety of aquatic wildlife, such as fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, birds’ eggs, birds and reptiles such as turtles. They have also been known to eat aquatic plants and to prey on other small mammals, such as muskrats or rabbits. They have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently.

“River otters communicate with whistles, yelps, growls and screams, as well as touch and body posture. They also scent mark using scent glands near the base of their tails that produce a strong, musky odor.”