Otters belong to the order Carnivora, making them carnivorous animals. Fish are their main food source. In the wild, otters primarily catch fish in the water. Due to their strong hunting abilities, they can also capture many other animals, such as shrimp, crabs, snakes, frogs, and some large waterfowl. Additionally, some otters live in zoos, where their diet mainly consists of fish, shrimp, and crabs, with humans providing food for them regularly.
1. What Do Otters Eat?
Otters are mammals from the Carnivora order, and as carnivores, they can consume a wide variety of animals. They primarily hunt aquatic creatures, as they are especially skilled at hunting in water. Fish are the primary food for otters, and most of the food caught by wild otters in the water is fish. Besides fish, otters can catch other animals, such as shrimp, crabs, snakes, frogs, and some large waterfowl. In zoos, otters are also fed mainly fish, shrimp, and crabs.
2. How Do Otters Hunt?
Otters are very skilled hunters and can prey on many types of animals. Their strong hunting abilities place them high on the food chain, nearly at the top. Otters have very sharp vision, allowing them to quickly spot their prey in the water. Once they lock onto their target, they assess whether it’s better to attack from above or below, depending on the situation. Their claws play a major role in capturing prey, as their toes are very sharp. After locking onto their prey, they use their claws to secure it. Then, they twist and tear it apart before eating it.
For smaller prey, otters will eat it directly. For larger animals, they first tear it into smaller pieces before eating. Generally, otters eat everything they catch and do not store food for later consumption.
