The North American river otter is extremely widespread, not confined to just rivers. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. River otters do not dig their own dens but may modify the unused burrows of other mammals. Tuesday April 15, 2014 gave us a glimpse of the North American RIver Otter. Despite its common name, the North American river otter is equally comfortable in either coastal marine or freshwater habitats. North American river otters are the only river otter that is found north of Mexico. They can be found in streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, coastal shorelines and marshes. the otter's greatest predators on the land is humans. 1, 2 Most mustelids, including otters, have specialized teeth, including sharp canines and carnassials that inflict lethal bites to prey and large crushing molars. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. Introduction. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family.While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. The North American river otter was once nearly eliminated in Missouri, ... and not obviously tapering from the body toward the tip. River otters generally live along rivers, as their name implies, but they're also found near streams and lakes.Otters prefer water bordered by woods and with wetlands, such as marshes, nearby. In order to defend themselves, they rely on their speed underwater to escape these predators. The only other otter in North America is the endangered sea otter, which occurs in seawater only along the Pacific Coast and not in Missouri. This animal’s lovely waterproof pelt, which allows it to regulate its temperature, in the 1700s-1800s, a regular part of French fur trade, has meant this animal has been hunted for hundreds of years. As an otter dives into the water in search of food, bubbles can be seen escaping their fur. The river otter is a common resident throughout the Adirondack Park in lakes, beaver ponds, rivers, streams and their tributaries to elevations of at least 681 m (2234 ft). Flexing their long bodies up and down, paddling with their webbed hind feet, and using their feet and strong tails to steer, river otters are underwater acrobats. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a fur bearing mammal of economic value.Historically they were distributed throughout Canada and United States but their present range is fragmented due to pollution and urbanization. The North American river otter is a member of the mustelid or weasel family that can be easily identified by a stout body, short legs, noticeably tapered tail and dense, short, glossy fur. River otters do not have many natural predators, but they are hunted by alligators, bobcats, and birds of prey. Wiki User May 13, 2008 2:41AM.