21K views · 486 reactions | Let’s learn some North American river...

The north american river otter is a semi-aquatic and primarily nocturnal member of the weasel family. While they are known for their playful and almost comedic nature, as they are often seen sliding and rolling around, they are actually formidable hunters, preying mostly on fish, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans. Otters once suffered a serious decline and were extirpated from much of their original range nationwide due to habitat loss, pollution and over trapping for the fur trade. Thanks to

💙🦦 North American river otters are considered a keystone species, which means other species in the same habitat largely depend on the existence of river otters. They are a top predator and their presence also reflects the health of the ecosystem around them. Find river otters, and you will find healthy streams and rivers. 💧👋 See them at American Trail! | Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute