A Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/1/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Jon Corcoran MBP List

A Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/1/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Jon Corcoran MBP List

A Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/1/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Jon Corcoran MBP List

A Northern River Otter in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/1/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Leslie Starr MBP List

A Northern River Otter in Howard Co., Maryland (3/22/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Howard Patterson MBP List

A Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/1/2020).

View Record Details Photo by Emily Stanley MBP List

A Northern River Otter in Harford Co., Maryland (2/28/2016).

View Record Details Photo by Matthew Addicks MBP List

A Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/7/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Wendy Crowe MBP List

A Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (12/5/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Andrew Clemens MBP List

A Northern River Otter at Oxbow Lake, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/28/2010).

Photo by Wendy Crowe MBP List

A Northern River Otter bursts forth from a pond in pursuit of some domestic Muscovy Ducks - Somerset Co., Maryland (1/20/2013).

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Northern River Otter in Calvert Co., Maryland (12/5/2021). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 494929 - Psn: 45)

View Record Details Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist MBP List

Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (11/8/2023). (c) wendyinmd, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 918586 - Psn: 55)

Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (11/8/2023). (c) wendyinmd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by wendyinmd via iNaturalist MBP List

A Northern River Otter in a small pond in West Ocean City, Maryland (11/13/2010).

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Northern River Otter in Montgomery Co., Maryland (2/7/2022). (c) Nick Hobgood, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/'>CC BY-NC-ND</a>). (Photo ID: 520435 - Psn: 62)

Northern River Otter in Montgomery Co., Maryland (2/7/2022). (c) Nick Hobgood, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND).

View Record Details Photo by Nick Hobgood via iNaturalist MBP List

A Northern River Otter on the ice at Brighton Dam, Howard Co., Maryland (1/4/2009).

View Record Details Photo by Nancy Magnusson MBP List

Northern River Otter in Howard Co., Maryland (11/6/2020). (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 309195 - Psn: 65)

Northern River Otter in Howard Co., Maryland (11/6/2020). (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Tim Frye via iNaturalist MBP List

Northern River Otter in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/21/2025). (c) danieltayloroc, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 1218151 - Psn: 78)

Northern River Otter in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/21/2025). (c) danieltayloroc, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by danieltayloroc via iNaturalist MBP List

Northern River Otter in Harford Co., Maryland (1/25/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Frank Marsden MBP List

Northern River Otter in Carroll Co., Maryland (8/20/2024). No rights reserved.

View Record Details Photo by Andy Wilson via iNaturalist MBP List

Northern River Otter in Calvert Co., Maryland (2/17/2026). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved (Photo ID: 1461709 - Psn: 88)

View Record Details Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist MBP List

A Northern River Otter in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/24/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Norma Broadwater MBP List

A Northern River Otter den in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 634080 - Psn: 142)

A Northern River Otter den in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

Northern River Otter with Bluegill prey in Prince George's Co., Maryland (1/27/2024). (c) Ken Clark, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/'>CC BY</a>). (Photo ID: 955237 - Psn: 155)

Northern River Otter with Bluegill prey in Prince George's Co., Maryland (1/27/2024). (c) Ken Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY).

View Record Details Photo by Ken Clark via iNaturalist MBP List

Northern River Otter in Howard Co., Maryland (2/17/2024). (c) johnmetz, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 967510 - Psn: 168)

Northern River Otter in Howard Co., Maryland (2/17/2024). (c) johnmetz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by johnmetz via iNaturalist MBP List

A Northern River Otter pawprint in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/22/2020).

View Record Details Photo by Lynn Strauss MBP List

Northern River Otter scat in Prince George's Co., Maryland (3/12/2016).

View Record Details Photo by Kerry Wixted MBP List

Evidence of a Northern River Otter in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/14/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Tyler Bell MBP List

Northern River Otter scat in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/25/2017). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 1160724 - Psn: 200)

View Record Details Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Northern River Otter in Worcester Co., Maryland (11/8/2025). (c) Tom Field, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/'>CC BY</a>) (Photo ID: 1439523 - Psn: 220)

Northern River Otter in Worcester Co., Maryland (11/8/2025). (c) Tom Field, some rights reserved (CC BY)

View Record Details Photo by Tom Feild MBP List

Northern River Otter pawprints in Calvert Co., Maryland (2/10/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Ben Springer MBP List

Northern River Otter tracks on Assateague Island, Maryland (11/10/2013).

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

A Northern River Otter in Calvert Co., Maryland (3/18/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Stasz MBP List

Northern River Otter scat found in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/12/2014).

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Map Snapshot

254 Records

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A Northern River Otter recorded along the Potomac River in Allegany Co., Maryland (10/7/2016). - Kimberly Booth.

Status

Our lovable, semi-aquatic weasel is found statewide, but is most common on the coastal plain near the Chesapeake Bay. It was formerly extirpated in western Maryland due to over-trapping, but reintroduction from the Eastern Shore population was very successful.

Relationships

Feeds primarily on fish, mollusks, crustaceans, reptiles, and amphibians.

Seasonality Summary

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Resources

View at iNaturalist Search Google Images Search MBP Facebook posts

Citations

No citations linked for this taxon yet.

Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

A Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/1/2014). View Record Details Media by Jon Corcoran.

A Northern River Otter in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/1/2017). View Record Details Media by Leslie Starr.

A Northern River Otter in Howard Co., Maryland (3/22/2015). View Record Details Media by Howard Patterson.

A Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/1/2020). View Record Details Media by Emily Stanley.

A Northern River Otter in Harford Co., Maryland (2/28/2016). View Record Details Media by Matthew Addicks.

A Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/7/2014). View Record Details Media by Wendy Crowe.

A Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (12/5/2019). View Record Details Media by Andrew Clemens.

A Northern River Otter at Oxbow Lake, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/28/2010). Media by Wendy Crowe.

A Northern River Otter bursts forth from a pond in pursuit of some domestic Muscovy Ducks - Somerset Co., Maryland (1/20/2013). Media by Bill Hubick.

Northern River Otter in Baltimore Co., Maryland (11/8/2023). (c) wendyinmd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by wendyinmd via iNaturalist.

A Northern River Otter in a small pond in West Ocean City, Maryland (11/13/2010). Media by Bill Hubick.

Northern River Otter in Montgomery Co., Maryland (2/7/2022). (c) Nick Hobgood, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). View Record Details Media by Nick Hobgood via iNaturalist.

A Northern River Otter on the ice at Brighton Dam, Howard Co., Maryland (1/4/2009). View Record Details Media by Nancy Magnusson.

Northern River Otter in Howard Co., Maryland (11/6/2020). (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Tim Frye via iNaturalist.

Northern River Otter in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/21/2025). (c) danieltayloroc, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by danieltayloroc via iNaturalist.

Northern River Otter in Harford Co., Maryland (1/25/2017). View Record Details Media by Frank Marsden.

Northern River Otter in Carroll Co., Maryland (8/20/2024). No rights reserved. View Record Details Media by Andy Wilson via iNaturalist.

A Northern River Otter in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/24/2017). View Record Details Media by Norma Broadwater.

A Northern River Otter den in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

Northern River Otter with Bluegill prey in Prince George's Co., Maryland (1/27/2024). (c) Ken Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY). View Record Details Media by Ken Clark via iNaturalist.

Northern River Otter in Howard Co., Maryland (2/17/2024). (c) johnmetz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by johnmetz via iNaturalist.

A Northern River Otter pawprint in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/22/2020). View Record Details Media by Lynn Strauss.

Northern River Otter scat in Prince George's Co., Maryland (3/12/2016). View Record Details Media by Kerry Wixted.

Evidence of a Northern River Otter in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/14/2017). View Record Details Media by Tyler Bell.

Northern River Otter in Worcester Co., Maryland (11/8/2025). (c) Tom Field, some rights reserved (CC BY) View Record Details Media by Tom Feild.

Northern River Otter pawprints in Calvert Co., Maryland (2/10/2019). View Record Details Media by Ben Springer.

Northern River Otter tracks on Assateague Island, Maryland (11/10/2013). Media by Bill Hubick.

A Northern River Otter in Calvert Co., Maryland (3/18/2018). View Record Details Media by Jim Stasz.

Northern River Otter scat found in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/12/2014). Media by Bill Hubick.