Abstract
Little is known about the behaviors river otters (Lontra canadensis) commonly exhibit when visiting latrine sites. By use of video data we constructed an ethogram to describe and quantify latrine behaviors. The most common behaviors were standing (20.5 %) and sniffing (18.6 %), lending support to the hypothesis that latrines are used for olfactory communication. Surprisingly, defecation was rarely observed (1.4 %); body rubbing occurred more than defecation (10.5 %). It is possible that, in addition to feces, urine, and anal jelly, river otters use body rubbing to scent mark. To monitor site use, we determined seasonal, monthly, and daily visitation rates and calculated visit duration. River otters most frequently visited the latrine in the winter (December and January) but the longest visits occurred in the fall. Very few visits were recorded during the summer. Latrines were most often visited at night, but nocturnal and diurnal visit durations were not different. River otters were more likely to visit the latrine and engage in a specific behavior rather than travel straight through the site. Our data supported the idea that river otters are primarily solitary mammals, with most latrine visits by single otters. However, we documented groups of up to 4 individuals using the area, and group visits lasted longer than solitary visits. Therefore, whether visits are solitary or social, latrine sites are likely to act as communication stations to transmit information between individuals.
Highlights
Latrine behavior, the preferential use of a specific location for defecation (Irwin et al 2004), is well documented within the Class Mammalia (Gorman and Trowbridge 1989)
Little is known about the behaviors river otters (Lontra canadensis) commonly exhibit when visiting latrine sites
Many observations (n = 126) provided only partial views (PV) of the animals, when otter(s) were present in the latrine but visibility was obstructed by an inanimate object or only part of their body was in the frame of view
Summary
The preferential use of a specific location for defecation (Irwin et al 2004), is well documented within the Class Mammalia (Gorman and Trowbridge 1989). Olfactory latrine communication may aid species (Rostain et al 2004) and social recognition (Oldham and Black 2009), communicate male social status (Rostain et al 2004), or signal resource depletion (Kruuk 1992, 2006); overall function and use may vary with sex and social status (BenDavid et al 2005). To determine the function of river otter latrines, latrine behaviors of free-ranging river otters should be described. Rostain et al (2004) and Hansen et al (2009) described the behaviors of captive river otters, but the extent to which these observations represent the behaviors of river otters in their native home range is unclear. Study of latrine behavior will contribute to better understanding of the function of latrine sites and strengthen the basis of research methods that depend on latrine sites to reach conclusions about river otter populations
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