Abstract
Forty-one river otter (Lutra canadensis) fecal deposit (latrine) sites were located during April 1983 through March 1984 along beaver (Castor canadensis) inhabited watercourses in Clark, Nevada, and Ouachita counties, Arkansas. Latrine sizes ranged from 64 cm² to 5.01 m² (x-bar=0.30 m²; S.D. =0.88), and contained 2 to 78 scats per latrine (x-bar=9.2; S.D. = 13.8). The most common sites for latrines included elevated leaf or moss covered banks (51.2%), beaver lodges or bank dens (17.1 %), and beaver scent mounds (12.2%). Other latrine sites included felled logs over open water, bare soil along elevated banks, and exposed sandbars. Otter presence fluctuated seasonally in beaver areas, with the periods of greatest occurrence being early summer and late winter.
Recommended Citation
Karnes, Mark R. and Tumlison, C. Renn
(1984)
"River Otter in Arkansas III. Characteristics of Otter Latrines and Their Distribution Along Beaver-Inhabited Watercourses in Southwest Arkansas,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 38, Article 16.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol38/iss1/16
