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Animal with webbed feet and resembling a small seal, known as an otter, found in a pollution-filled lake - Enthusiasts boasting remarkable, thick fur - the otters, known for their fondness for sea dwelling creatures.
Large Native Weasels of Germany: The Semi-Aquatic Otters
The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), the largest native weasel species in Germany, according to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, inhabits the country. With their nocturnal and crepuscular (active during twilight) behavior, otters are often difficult for humans to spot. These agile creatures can travel up to 20 kilometers in a single night.
Territories of several female otters often lie within a male's territory. Despite not having a fixed mating season, young otters can be born at any time throughout the year. A typical litter consists of one to three offspring, who typically leave their parents' territory by their first birthday.
Otters, being voracious carnivores, consume up to a kilogram of fish daily. Besides fish, their diet includes frogs, crabs, waterbirds, certain mice, and occasionally birds and small mammals. German Hunting Association reports state that these semi-aquatic mammals can live up to nine or ten years in the wild.
Otters can weigh as much as 12 kilograms and measure up to 1.20 meters in length, with their tails accounting for about a third of their total body length. With their webbed feet, otters can dive for approximately eight minutes. Their fur, denser than that of any other native German wildlife, boasts up to 80,000 hairs per square centimeter of skin, compared to an average of 200 hairs on a human head within the same area.
City of MainzGermany
Otters inhabiting the Mainz area primarily live along the Rhine River or nearby tributaries. Although primarily carnivorous, their diet adaptability sometimes leads them to consume invertebrates and carrion. These semi-aquatic mammals, renowned for their playful nature, are generally solitary but may form family groups on occasion. Factors affecting their lifespan in urban areas include habitat quality, food availability, human activities, and disease. Conservation efforts are essential for maintaining healthy otter populations in urban areas like Mainz.
In some urban areas, such as Mainz, Germany, the semi-aquatic otters can be found living along the Rhine River or its tributaries. To enhance their lifespan and foster a thriving community in urban settings, initiatives like vocational training programs for local residents in home-and-garden practices, specifically pertaining to gardening and creating wildlife-friendly environments, could potentially contribute to improving the otters' habitat quality and overall lifestyle, thereby supporting conservation efforts.
