The North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) once inhabited rivers, lakes and estuaries throughout North America. But unregulated trapping, water pollution and habitat loss caused a dramatic decline in otter populations in many areas and local extirpations in others.
River Otters
![River Otters River Otters](https://seatuck.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/andreas-schantl-wbV4wXJ-kcU-unsplash-750x350.jpg)