98 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 68 



Large juveniles often attempt to nurse. When the mother is 

 reluctant, she rolls over. If the young otter is persistent and clasps 

 her firmly with the forelegs, she may roll on a horizontal axis 

 rapidly through 5 to 10 rotations, v^hich usually dislodges it. 



SWIMMING 



At an early age, v^hile the pup is still nearly helpless, the mother 

 occasionally lifts it from her chest, places it in the water, then 

 swims slowly away from it. The pup swims belly down paddling 

 clumsily with all four feet. During these early swimming sessions, 

 the pup frequently cries. The mother may remain just beyond the 

 pup's reach for 50 m. or more before she allows it to overtake her 

 when she again rolls or lifts it onto her chest. By the time the pup 

 reaches an estimated age of 2 to 3 months, swimming ability is 

 improved and it appears more at ease, crying less when swimming. 

 When the mother swims near the pup it does not attempt frantically 

 to reach her but swims quietly beside her (fig. 56). At this stage 

 the pup apparently has not learned to swim on its back. Swimming 

 on the back appears to develop slowly. While the mother is resting 

 the pup often plays, swimming and making shallow dives near 

 her. During these periods the pup appears to develop the ability 

 to swim on its back. 



DIVING AND FOOD GATHERING 



After a pup learns to swim, it attempts to dive. Its first dives 

 barely take it beneath the surface and considerable effort over a 

 period of time is required to overcome the buoyancy of its air- 

 filled fur. When the pup finally learns to reach the bottom in 

 shallow water it brings up starfishes, bits of kelp, and pebbles. 

 Seldom does it obtain edible items. Even after the pup is nearly a 

 year old and about three-quarters as large as its mother, and may 

 obtain much of its own food by diving, it continues to depend on 

 its mother to satisfy its food needs. 



From the time of birth the young otter is able to consume solid 

 food which its mother gives to it. In the early weeks of life, how- 

 ever, stomach examinations indicate that milk predominates in 

 its diet. After the pup is a month or two old it frequently pesters 

 its mother for food. When she emerges from a food dive, the pup 

 climbs onto her chest to beg for and receive part of the food she 

 has brought to the surface (fig. 57). Large juveniles, able to dive 

 well but unable to satisfy their food needs, may snatch food for- 

 cibly from the tolerant mother while she is floating on the surface 

 and eating. 



