Eurasian otter

About

The Eurasian otter is a semi-aquatic predator from the weasel family, which can be found in the Carpathians along clean rivers and streams from the foothills to the mountain valleys. It inhabits the Tysa, Uzh, Latorica, Cheremosh, Prut, and Stryi rivers and their tributaries, as well as rivers in Poland, Slovakia, and Romania. The Eurasian otter is an indicator of clean water: where it hunts, there is enough fish and little pollution.

The body of the Eurasian otter is long and flexible, with short webbed feet, and a thick tail that tapers gradually. Its dense brown fur is waterproof, and its ears and nostrils close underwater. Together with its tail, the animal can exceed a length of one meter.

The Eurasian otter primarily feeds on fish, but also eats frogs, crayfish, and aquatic insects. It is most active at dusk and at night, resting during the day in a den under the roots of riverside trees. Young can be born at any time of the year.

The Eurasian otter is rarely seen, but its presence is easy to recognize. It leaves droppings with fish scales and bones on rocks and stumps by the water, and tracks with webbed footprints in mud and snow. In winter, sliding tracks can be seen on steep banks where the animal slides into the water.

The Eurasian otter is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine as a vulnerable species, and hunting it is prohibited. According to the IUCN classification, the species is near threatened (NT).

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Ukraine · Czechia · Romania · Slovakia · Serbia · Poland

Mountain ranges

Chornohora, Gorgany, Maramureș Mountains, Krasna Polonyna, Hryniava Mountains, Chyvchyn Mountains, Pokuttia-Bukovina Carpathians, Moravian-Silesian Beskids, Slovak Ore Mountains, Skole Beskids

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Hunting the Eurasian otter is prohibited: the species is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ