Otters are the most playful of the carnivorous mammals of the mustelid family, which also includes martens, weasels, skunks and even wolverines. Otters of all ages love to slide down banks of mud and snow. Even in captivity otter antics never cease. It seems that their mission is to enjoy themselves. Their diet consists mainly of prey that they catch with their mouths - non-game fish, frogs, crabs, and crayfish and occasionally birds and rodents. Otters have territories which they scent mark and defend. Male otters are generally excluded from the company of females with young, but rejoin the family when the cubs are about six months.

The increase or decrease of the river otter population is an important sign for the health of our planet. Otters cannot live in polluted water and it should be our mission to protect them. That is why I chose the river otter as the subject for this Earth Day 2000 print. - CB