Sea otters are twice the size of river otters, and are never far from the ocean. But as I came closer I heard a low hum or purring that I think was a defensive growl. For more information search the web for ‘river otters vs. sea otters’. Structures. Habitat: Otters can be found beside rivers, streams and lakes, mostly in north and west England and Wales. The tail is thinner. Sea otters are larger and fluffier than river otters, and are almost always seen in the water, often floating on their backs. The name “muskrat” is derived from a musky yellowish SEA OTTER (Enhydra lutris) In California, sea otters are most often seen around Monterey Bay and Elkhorn Slough. Sep 9, 2006 #2 . This is The Disease Distinctions. There’s a superb Otter/Beaver/Muskrat article with photos and descriptions here. Otter spraints are messy smudges with a distinct, not unpleasant smell, and contain bones and fish scale remains. But muskrats often hold their tails out of the water which otters also do when they are diving for fish.

It also seemed more active, as you mentioned, and more curious. So my question is do muskrat eat shad? Watch for the long skinny hairless tail that helps give the muskrat its name. I had a five gallon bucket full of water and shad sittin at the edge. A similar species, the round-tailed muskrat (Neofiber alleni), is found only in the southeastern United States. I’ve heard a lot of mistaken IDs over the years, and have certainly made my share of slip-ups when seeing some animals at first glance.Muskrat vs. Beaver happens a lot. We’ve had one reported otter sighting on our Montana property, by one of our cabin guests, but I have yet to see them. Occasionally we see them in the SF Bay Area. It is found primarily in marshes, wetlands and other aquatic habitats throughout North America. The photo on the left is a muskrat; the one on the right is an otter SeedTick Guest. Muskrats eat plants such as cattails, and sometimes consume animals such as crayfish. The most obvious difference between beavers and muskrats is their size. If you see a stump that has been chiseled into a point, the culprit was a beaver. TRACKS Much larger than mink tracks, and very different shape than muskrat, nutria, and I’ve heard a lot of mistaken IDs over the years, and have certainly made my share of slip-ups when seeing some animals at first glance.Muskrat vs. Beaver happens a lot. Muskrats are much smaller than otter and do not share similarities in body shape either. The much smaller muskrat averages about four pounds. Or did I see a young otter? The problem is the muskrat's tail which can look like an otter's tail from a distance. Well, he won, it was a beaver. Beavers are exclusively vegetarian and eat the soft tissue under tree bark. Mink are semi-aquatic mammals that are part of the mustelidae family, which includes animals such as the weasel, otter and ferret. Also, otter pelts may not be taken out of Florida unless tagged. Tracks are usually at least 2cm wide (wider than your thumbprint). s_man, Sep 9, 2006. s_man, Sep 9, 2006. The muskrat belongs to the Family Cricetidae in the Order Rodentia. But muskrats are by far the most common of the animals listed here and can be encountered frequently. otter sightings in Puget Sound are still extremely rare. Messages: 1,414. s_man said: I was fishing with a buddy on the bank on the new riprap at riverside park in Z-ville last monday night. Do otters make a soft chitter sound? Muskrats weigh about three to four pounds, while nutria range from 11 to 22 pounds. Thanks.). Also found along the west coast of Scotland. Otter: Dec. 1 - March 1. by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows, pistols and air guns. Those with a hunting license may pos­sess no more than 1 otter pelt between April 1 and Nov. 30, unless pelt has CITES tag. Beavers build dams in order to block off streams and create ponds, and muskrats do not. 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