296 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 68 



eaten was between 4.5 lb. (2.0 kg.) and 11.5 lb. (5.2 kg.) 94 per- 

 cent of the time and between 5.5 lb. (2.5 kg.) and 10.5 lb. (4.8 kg.) 

 78 percent of the time (fig. 111). 



Figure 112 demonstrates that in a winter month (February) 

 more food was consumed than in a summer month (August). In 

 February the intake in a 24-hour period ranged from 6 lb. (2.7 

 kg.) to 14.5 lb. (6.6 kg.) and in August from 5 lb. (2.3 kg.) to 

 12.5 lb. (5.7 kg.). The average daily consumption in February was 

 9.5 lb. (4.3 kg.) and in August 8.8 lb. (4.0 kg.). About 3,400 and 



30 



120 



100 



80 



>- 



o 

 z: 



LlI 



ZD 



a 



UJ 60 

 cr 



40 



20 



2.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5 7.5 8.5 9.5 10.5 i 1.5 12.5 13.5 14.5 15.5 

 POUNDS EATEN 



Figure 111. — The amount of food consumed by a captive female otter was 

 recorded on 602 days. Food was available in excess of her daily requirement, 

 and the amount consumed in a single day varied from about 2 lb. (1 kg.) 

 to 16.5 lb. (7,5 kg.). Daily consumption was between 4.5 and 11.5 lb. on 

 567 days (94 percent of the time) and between 5.5 and 10.5 lb. on 470 

 days (78 percent of the time). 



