1936] 



MAMMALS OF OREGON 



301 



each. They are in great demand by the Eskimo for trimming hoods 

 but among whites are used mainly for sleigh robes and heavy over- 

 coats in the coldest parts of the Northern States. Occasionally a 

 beautiful muff made from a single skin is seen. The fur is warm 

 and durable, and the long glossy hairs and unique color pattern 

 give it a distinguished appearance. 



LUTRA CANADENSIS PACIFICA RHOADS 



WESTERN OTTER; PAHTSUGO of the Piute at Burns; NANNOCKS of the Wasco; 

 KOLTA of the Klamath (C. H. M.) 



Lutra hudsonica paeifica Rhoads, Amer. Phil. Soc. Trans, (n. s.) 19:429, 1898. 



Type. Collected at Keechelus Lake, Kittitas County, Wash., by Allan Rupert 

 in 1892 or 1893. 



General characters. Appearance somewhat minklike but in size many times 

 larger than the mink; body long and low with short legs; long, tapering, 

 flattened tail; small head; small eyes and ears; hind feet large and fully 

 webbed; front feet half webbed, soles mainly naked; fur dense and silky, 

 wholly concealed by short glossy guard hairs. Color, dark chestnut brown, 

 slightly paler below and with grayish-brown throat and cheeks. In summer 

 pelage fading to lighter, more hazel brown. Young much the same as adults. 

 Larger than typical canadensix with heavier skull and more gray on throat 

 and cheeks. 



Measurements. Of old female from Birch Creek, Idaho: Total length, 1,150 

 mm ; tail, 463 ; foot, 137 ; ear, 21. Weight 19 pounds. There are other records 

 of otters weighing 20, 23, 25, and 28 pounds, but not all of these can be verified. 



Distribution cmd habitat. Otters formerly occupied practically 

 all permanent streams and lakes in Oregon and after 100 years of 

 trapping are still found sparingly in many of them (fig. 73). Cli- 

 mate, altitude, and life 

 zones are wholly ignored 

 by these aquatic hunters 

 and fishers, fresh water 

 and an abundant food sup- 

 ply being all they ask any- 

 where between the Tropics 

 and Arctic regions. 



General halt it s. 

 Adapted to life in both 

 the water or on land, ot- 

 ters seem to prefer the 

 water. They swim with 

 the graceful motions of a 

 fish or seal and with great 

 speed, capturing most of 

 their prey, fish, frogs, or 

 crustaceans, in the water and eating them on the shore or on rocks 

 and logs. They are great travelers, making long rounds up one 

 stream and down another, or short trips overland to lakes or other 

 streams. On bare ground they have a slow awkward gait and rarely 

 go far from the water, but in soft snow they travel rapidly in long 

 slides on their glossy bellies and sometimes strike off for several 

 miles across country to some little-frequented stream or lake. They 

 are gentle, playful animals with little of the savage disposition of the 

 weasels and are easily tamed and make affectionate pets. They are 

 savage fighters when cornered and more than a match for most dogs. 



FIGURE 73. Range of the western otter, Lutra 

 canadensis pacifica, in Oregon. 



