Otters in North Dakota: Where to Look and What Signs to Watch For

River otters in North Dakota stick to permanent waterways with good cover. Focus on the Missouri River system downstream of Garrison Dam, the Red River along the eastern border, and the James River in the southeast. They also use oxbows, sloughs, and beaver ponds connected to these rivers. Look for areas with eroded banks, overhanging trees, or logjams where otters can rest and hide. For more on their general habitat, check out our otter animal page.

Otter activity peaks around dawn and dusk, but they can be active at any hour. Winter is surprisingly good: otters stay active on ice and snow, and their tracks and slides stand out. Spring offers high visibility during fish spawning runs. Summer mornings are cooler and often better than afternoons. Otters are less active in high heat or heavy rain.

Otter tracks are webbed, with five toes and a distinctive star-shaped pad. They measure about 2-3 inches wide. Look for slide marks on muddy banks or snow banks - smooth, wide troughs leading into the water. Otter scat contains fish scales and bones, often deposited on prominent rocks or logs. You may also find scent mounds of mud and vegetation near latrine sites.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Fish make up most of an otter's diet: suckers, minnows, and panfish are common. They also eat crayfish, frogs, and occasionally muskrats. This means otters stick to areas with abundant prey. In North Dakota, that often means tailwaters below dams, deep pools, and slow-moving stretches with clear water. Check out our North Dakota wildlife page for more on the state's other aquatic species.

Three state wildlife management areas worth your time are : the Sheyenne River Valley south of Lisbon, the Missouri River bottoms near Bismarck (like the Fort Rice area), and the Red River Wildlife Management Area near Drayton. Lake Sakakawea has otters along its upper reaches, especially near the Little Missouri River arm. The National Grasslands along the Little Missouri also support otters in the river corridors. For an interactive map, use the travel tool below.