Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Since the weather is getting warmer, we want to help you get out there and take advantage of all that the Lowcountry has to offer! We offer guided tours of the beautiful Lowcountry by kayak, paddleboard, ferry, boat, and private charter. We also have hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, and camping. Basically, anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. In our last post, we discussed Hampton Plantation and the Santee Delta Region. Today, we’ll be turning our attention to some of our furry friends in the Lowcountry: River otters! These are incredibly unique mammals that are part of our ecosystem. If you’re interested in learning more, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.

Although spotting a river otter might be a fairly rare sight, they can be found almost all over South Carolina! These semi-aquatic mammals are members of the weasel family, called Mustelidae. Within that family, they make up the subfamily known as Lutrinae. They are the largest member of the weasel family found in South Carolina! River otters have elongated bodies with short and stout legs and a muscular neck. They also have long whiskers that enhance their senses and are used to detect their prey. 

These mammals are covered in short fur, which ranges from shades of light brown to black. This thick fur keeps them warm when swimming in cold water. The average weight of a male otter ranges from 15 to 20 pounds, with females weighing less. Adult otters can be anywhere from 35 to 55 inches in length– With one-third of the length being their tail! They are well-equipped for aquatic living in a few ways: Their nostrils and ears have the ability to close while in water, effectively keeping them dry– And they can stay underwater for up to eight minutes! They also have webbed feet for faster swimming with claws that are ideal for catching prey, and their long and narrow body is great for allowing them to have streamlined movement in the water. Their long and strong tail helps propel them through the water. Despite this, they are not as agile on land, but they still have an incredibly strong sense of hearing and smell.

River otters are carnivorous animals, meaning that they feed on other animals. Their diet mainly consists of fish, but they also eat amphibians such as frogs and salamanders, freshwater clams, mussels, snails, crayfish, crabs, and even small turtles. Occasionally, they may consume other small animals or waterfowl. Otters are opportunistic, meaning they take advantage of situations and adapt their diet based on that. With that being said, their diet usually reflects the availability of their prey. 

Of course, river otters are highly associated with water. In fact, their preferred habitat consists of clean water that is relatively free of human disturbance. These mammals can be found in all of the Lowcountry’s major river systems and drainages, including ponds, but they are most abundant in coastal marshes and blackwater swamps. This is due to the abundance of food and cover in these areas. Otters tend to prefer slow-moving waters and are often more active at night. They can sometimes be found in coastal waterfowl impoundments, and often make use of beaver ponds in the Piedmont region for denning. River otters select denning sites based on availability and convenience. They tend to use hollow logs and crevices found in rocks and sometimes make use of unused or abandoned human structures. 

Natal denning tends to be located on small waterways that lead to larger drainages or lakes. Otters mate between December and April, and something particularly interesting is that the fertilized eggs stay in a free-floating state until the following winter or early spring. These eggs are called blastocysts, and once they are implanted, they take about 60 to 65 days to grow a fetus. Baby otters, known as kits, are typically born between February and April. Female otters typically produce one litter each year, consisting of two to four kits. Only the female otter cares for the young until they disperse at around 12 to 13 months of age.

As mentioned previously, otters prefer habitats consisting of clean water. They are also known as an indicator species, which means they indicate the level of something. This means that seeing otters is generally a good sign; It means the ecosystem is healthy and thriving! The North American River Otter has seen a nationwide decline, but is thankfully not endangered. In areas such as South Carolina, river otter populations are stable. However, this doesn’t mean that they are immune to the effects of pollution– In fact, because they are semi-aquatic mammals and near the top of the food chain, they are highly susceptible to water pollution. The use of pesticides and the improper disposal of waste can affect the animals that otters feed on. This means that when otters eat their prey, they are also consuming pollutants that their prey consumes. Some pollutants produced by human activities include mercury, DDT, and PCBS. When ingested, they cannot be effectively eliminated by the animal. Instead, the pollutants remain in the animal’s tissue and accumulate over time. Additionally, habitats of river otters have been compromised due to human development and increased boat traffic. 

Besides pollution, otters face other threats from humans. Throughout history, some populations of river otters have been diminished due to hunting. Otters have been highly sought after for their thick, waterproof fur. In fact, otter fur harvest peaked in the northern United States around 1800. This was the main factor that contributed to the decline of the population throughout North America. Today, in South Carolina, otters are legally classified as furbearers, which means they are mammals that are hunted and trapped primarily for their fur. This means that they can legally be trapped or hunted during the open season. The season for trapping is December 1 through March 1, and the season for hunting is Thanksgiving Day through March 1 on private lands with a valid hunting license. 

The guided tours we offer here at Coastal Expeditions are great opportunities to see the wildlife of the Lowcountry in real time, in their natural habitat. Some types of wildlife you may see while touring include bottlenose dolphins, alligators, waterbirds, and more. Our Santee to Sea Camping and Kayaking excursion as well as our Wambaw Wilderness Kayak Tour provides a chance to see river otters as well! This is a fantastic opportunity to see these wonderful creatures thriving in their natural habitat. 

As you can see, otters are incredibly fascinating creatures. We encourage you to do more research on them in order to truly appreciate their existence, and then get out there and explore– At a safe distance, of course! Since they are so abundant here in the Lowcountry, you’re sure to spot them while out exploring areas such as marshes, rivers, or swamps! You may even see them on one of our guided tours! We hope that you found this article informative and helpful. As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you have any questions about our other guided tours, reach out to us! At Coastal Expeditions, we are committed to introducing people to the wonders of the ecosystems of the Charleston area by providing guided tours and educational opportunities. If you’re looking to explore all that the Lowcountry has to offer, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We also offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!