Sea otters are often portrayed as lovable and relaxed animals that spend their time goofing around. Or, simply floating on their backs in the water with their special rock. While this image is ...

North American river otters eat, play and defecate in the same place. And their unhealthy habits make them ideal for detecting future health threats in the environment. Kristen Goodhue A North ...

Scientists at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland started investigating otter waste after finding odd ...

There’s just something about watching animals interact with their food that is super entertaining, especially when they are encountering a piece of food for the first time. Their whole process of ...

A North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) wanders through a forest at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Credit: Calli Wise, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center YouTube video: ...

While sea otters spend the majority of their time in the water, river otters will often run and play on land. This leads to some interesting behavior that reminds us of fun childhood games: the “run ...