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Is it a sea otter or a river otter?

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Sea Otter

Feeds at sea lying on back

Feeds at sea lying on back

Large hind flippers

Large hind flippers

Mums carrying their pups

Mums carrying their pups

✓ Swims and finds food in the sea ✓
  Climbs out on docks and floats ✓
  Lives along coastal shores and is common in the Strait of Georgia ✓
  Eats mainly fish but also some invertebrates ✓
  Typically brings prey ashore to eat ✓
✓ Eats sea urchins, clams, crab and other shellfish  
✓ Eats prey lying on back at sea  
  Dens on land, sometimes under people’s houses! ✓
  Has several young in a litter ✓
  Has a long pointy tail ✓
  Swims on its belly ✓
✓ Swims on its back  
✓ Lives at seas. Rarely comes ashore  
✓ Clumsy on land. Hind feet are large flippers  
✓ Gives birth at sea. Carries its single pup on its belly  
  Adult weighs up to 14 kg ✓
✓ Adult weighs 27 to 45 kg (size of a Lab retriever)  

River Otter

Long pointy tail, climbs out on docks

Long pointy tail, climbs out on docks

Comes ashore to den and eat prey

Comes ashore to den and eat prey

Swims on belly

Swims on belly

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