(ESTIMATED PUB DATE) A DOSSIER ON LUTRA (THE OTTER)

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00173979
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: January 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: January 1, 1966

A DOSSIER ON LUTRA (THE OTTER)
SUMMARY
Lutra, the otter, is a compact, powerful, intelligent
animal capable of negotiating land, water, and obstacles with
great facility. Lutra can survive in hostile environments
such as under ice, in hot water, in raging seas, and even
in urban environments. Capable of being easily trained and
becomes devoted to humans which sometimes leads to its
destruction. It can find its own food if necessary and can
make long journeys routinely. Basic cost of animal moderate
($75 -$150) as-is maintenance. Ha.; 'been used by man as a pet
and in the orient for fishing..
F7AT IS AN OTTER?
An otter is : Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order Carnivore
Family : Mustelidae
Genus : Lutra
Species: Many species and sub-species.
There are two animals commonly called the 'otter' - specifically
the Sea Otter ( Enhydra lutris ) and the land otter (Lutra).
The Sea Otter lives. mostly at sea; is nearly extinct; and
differs considerably from the land otters. For this reason our
discussion will cover Lutra, the ,land otter. *
There are many species and subspecies of Lutra. Lutra lives
all over the world in various forms. They may grow as large
as small seals, In general I:utra canadensis is representative of
most.... otters in 'size, physiology, habits, etc. For this reason
the following dossier will but infrequently refer to species
and subspecies of Lutra, the River Otter.
* Some taxonomists consider the Sea Otter to be so different
from the Land or River Otter that it is considered to be a
_Sub-Family.
LOCOMOTION - LAND
Can run rapidly on land. In the wild ranges a territory
over 50 miles. Will make night excursion of 15 miles. In
one case was chased 28 miles by otter-hounds. Can climb
stairs, ladder, and other objects easily. Ability to slide
down inclines with ease.
LOCOMOTION WATER
Must be taught'to swim. Can swim 10 mph or faster. Can
catch most fish easily. Dives to 60 feet and can stay
submerged 4-6 minutes. Enters and leaves boat easily.
Can be trained to catch fish. Sleeps floating on back.
Will carry large fish (5-10 pounds) through the water.
ANATOMY - PHYS IOLOGY
LENGTH - 4-5 feet with 1 foot tail . Some varieties much
longer.
WEIGHT - 25 pounds. (Sea otter 80 nounds.) Some Central
American varieties as large as small seals.
FEET - Webbed. 5 toes on each foot. Claws good for
climbing, but not for holding.Pads on toes capable
of holding slippery eel.
FUR
Tracks: F 21/2 X 3, 5 ;,H 3 X 3,5 (Lutra canadensis)
Durability - 100% Guard hairs with soft fur
.'"
underneath. Outer hair holds water; surface tension
holds them together to provide packing of under-fur
to provide insulation. Some air held in fur.
DENTITION C 1P Mi
4
1
BODY TEMPERATURE:. 38-390C
I.
ft
LIFE CYCLE
Probably mates for life. Most species breed at any time
of years, some in late February. Young born about 60 days
later. Litter 1- 5 (cubs, kits, pubs). Blind for 5 weeks.
Weaned in 4 months. Both parents help in rearing animals.
Small animals stay with parents one year.
_Life span greater than 15 years.
It
FrEDIrG
Young animals can be bottle fed with same formula used
for human babies. Diarrhea controlled by varying sugar
and water in formula. Rub animals' gut with moistened finger
to simulate licking of mother animal - this will substitute
for peristalsis in young animals.
Wean as soon as possible to fish. Eels particularly good, but
any fish will do. Will eat poultry, animal meat, eggs, and
other high protein foods. (Other foods, however, do not seem
to harm animal:)
Schedule feeding of young on per two hours and train to
go overnight without feeding as soon as possible - just as
with human baby. Mucus in stool normal:
Animal will catch own food and establish own preferences.
I.
TR=SPORTING
Transporting an otter is ecaptionally difficult. Animal
if
resents restricted quarters and will fight and tear itself
to desOtruction to escape. Tranquilizers are partially
effective.
In like manner, once animal has enjoyed freedom equal to that.
of dog, it is difficult to keep it caged.
For transporting it is recommended that it travel with
owner or else special care be taken to train animal to
accept confined.quarters (if possible). As last resort,
rely on medication ( tranauilizers7-anesthesia ).
'
No matter how brutal transportin4 can be (and other ways
man inflicts pain on the otter) it never seems to resent
this -treatment..
I.
GENERAL SEHAVICR
SLEEPING: Usually sleeps on back with 'arms' folded.
Likes to sleep with humans. Will sleep all night
although in the wild it can be nocturnal.
MANUAL AND ORAL DEXTERITY: Can open zipper, climb ladder,
chew through zinc sheet, turn on water tap, carry
stones and marbles - also larger objects, throw objects
with head (from mouth), hold slippery objects, carry
objects in 'arms' while swimming - also in mouth, will
cover himself.
SWIMMING: Must learn to swim at early age. Has initial
.,- fear of water which must be overcome.
�r:
FEARS: Seems to show no interest and/or fear of cities,
other animals (except very large birds such as eagles),
jet (and other) aircraft, railroad stations, crowds
of people, etc. Will fear water if not trained to it.
VOICE: Ranges from chirps to aspirations, sighs, "Hah",
and a wail (from whimpering to rage).
MISCLLANEOUS DO'S AND DONT'S
1. Never take away fcca from otter - particularly that
which he has just caught,or suffer severe mauling.
2. Never,if possible,confine (or leave in zoo or kennel)
an otter which has enjoyed any human companionship or
freedom.
3. Otters are very sensitive, to some drugs which might be
found in pesticides.
4. Do not panic when animal is In rough water, mountainous
waves, or under ice:
I.
f�
INCIDENTAL (BUT CRITICAL AND USEFUL) INFORnA.TION
. Has excellent sense of direction; can find air-holes
under ice easily.
2. All otters are automatically housebroken.
3. Otters have no natural fear of man when young.
4. Has a tendency to 'ritualize' behavior (as do many
animals) . For example, some will chew 5 crunches ozi
the left side of the mouth, then 5 crunches on the right,
on and on; Will roll ball up and down stomach exactly
the same way over and over again; Will rap..! door
repetitive pattern; etc:
5. Can survive water hotter than human would care to bathe
in.
6. Is very ticklish around the ribs (good way to distract
stubborn otter);
7. Has good time sense (e.g. will wake up exactly at a
certain time'each morning).
8. Excrement (called ispraint') has little or no odor.
9. Harness desireable 1) to keep in check in city and 2) to
identify animal to hunters as being tame (in forest).
(Special harness required - see page � describing it).
AN OTTER HARNESS
Every otter should have a harness so that it can be better
handled in the urban environment and so that it can be identified
as a pet in the country environment (by hunters and others).
The otter is lanky with a small head. For this reason a special
harness must be built. Because the animal slides a lot, a
'breast-plate' is necessary. The design below was worked out
by Maxwell. In only one case did he ever suspect that his animal
became 'hung up' by his harness while roaming the countryside.
Note that the strap are sufficienly tight allow .:tome of the
\
guard hairs to pass over it which reduces the chance of it -
being caught on objects.
MAXWELL OTTER HARNESS (LEATHER)
BREAST-PLATE
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VNTRAL VIEW
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DORSAL VIEW
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SELECTED REFEREYCES
'Maxwell, G., Ring of Bright Water, E.P. Dutton, Inc., New
/
York: 1961
Palmer, E.L., Fieldbook of Natural History. McGraw-Hill,
New York: 1949
ILane, F.W., Nature Parade. Fawcett Publications, Greenwich,
1 Conn.: 1954
)
O'Shea, M.V. (Ed.), The World Book Encyclopedia. W.F. Quarries
Co. :Chicago, 1928.
Young, J.Z., The Life of Vertebrates Oxford University
Press, London 1950.
Farre, R. Seal Morning, Rinehart & Co., New York : 1957.
Spector, W.S. (Ed.),'Handbook'of Biological Data. WADC Report
56-273. ASTIA Documpnt No. AD 110501.