U.S. #5649
2021 58¢ Otters in Snow – Otter, Tail at Right
Issue Date: October 12, 2021
First Day City: Otter, MT
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 300,000,000
The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is the most widely found otter species in the world. It lives in waterways across Europe and Asia, as well as northern Africa. The Eurasian otter's adaptability allows it to survive in a variety of climates.
Eurasian otters can live in just about any unpolluted body of water. This may include lakes, rivers, canals, and even ponds. Otters may be seen in and around salt water, but they are a freshwater species and should not be confused with their larger sea otter cousins.
Eurasian otters primarily eat fish. Individuals that live in warmer climates, such as the Mediterranean, feed on fish year-round. However, those that live in regions with defined seasons change their eating habits as fish becomes less readily available. During winter months, Eurasian otters still eat some fish, but mainly subsist on crustaceans, insects, amphibians, and occasionally small mammals.
Eurasian otters are extremely territorial animals, and spend most of their lives on their own. A single otter's territory can be up to 25 miles long, but most are around 10 miles. The size depends on the availability of food and water. Males and females may have territories that overlap as there is no defined mating season.
Eurasian otters were once in decline, but their numbers have begun to recover across their range.