Otters belong to another group of animals, the mustelids. This word
comes from the Latin, and means “weasel.” Other member of this family of
animals include weasels, skunks, and badgers. They are all short-legged,
have thick coats of fur and sharp, tearing teeth, and are carnivorousor
meat-eating mammals.
Otters love water, and their webbed feet, thick tails, and dense fur
make them well-suited for life in the water. Two kinds of otters are found
in and around North America. One is a fresh-water otter; the other is a sea