North American River Otter

This species is protected from trade under Appendix II of CITES. It has recently been added as a species managed under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums's (AZA's) Otter Species Survival Plan (SSP). This management will encourage genetically managed breeding in this captive population. The river otter is found throughout Alaska, east across northern Canada to Nova Scotia, south to California and sections of Arizona and down the Atlantic coast but they are very rare in the Midwest and south.

This species is threatened by habitat destruction and water pollution. They have been virtually eliminated through many parts of their original range, especially around heavily populated areas in the Midwest and east. They have been successfully reintroduced to many of these areas and hopefully are on the path to recovery.