When does a baby sea otter leave its mother?

Answer 1

The only time a sea otter mother leaves her pup is when she dives for food. While the mother dives, the pup floats atop the ocean--the pup's coat is too fluffy and air-filled to allow the pup to sink. Sometimes the mother will anchor the pup in one place by attaching it to a kelp bed.

anytime for food or to scare of stranger.

Answer 2

River otter pups actually leave their mothers, and they leave to live on their own when they are approximately 6 months to one year old.

According to the National Wildlife Foundation, river otter pups are born in the late winter / early spring in their mother's den. The mother otter takes care of her babies for their first 7-8 weeks, nursing and feeding them. Then she introduces them to water and they begin to learn how to swim. She also teaches them how to attack and eat solid food. By late fall, the otter pups are ready to live on their own.

As a side note, there are a number of different river otter species, including the northern river otter (Lontra canadensis), the southern river otter (Lontra provocax), and the neotropical river otter (Lontra longicaudis). For the sake of clarity, I have assumed you were referring to the northern river otter which is native to the Canada and the United States. There is also the European otter (Lutra lutra), which is not necessarily a river otter, whose pups stay with their mother for up to 14 months before leaving.

To learn more about otters, check out these sites below:

• Bishop, G. (2015). River otters. Retrieved from nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Animals/Mammals/River-Otters.aspx
• Hefner Museum of Natural History Online. (2015). Northern river otter. Retrieved from miamioh.edu/cas/academics/centers/hefner-museum/educational-resources/natural-histories/river-otter/index.html
• Dewey, T., & Ellis, E. (2003). "Lontra canadensis." In Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved from animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lontra_canadensis/
• Kennedy, S. (2003). "Lutra lutra." In Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved from animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lutra_lutra/

Answer 3

most likely always. Otters are very social and will most likely live in a group with it's parent.

Answer 4

They leave their mother between five and eight months to make it on their own.

Answer 5

An otter pup remains with its family until it is near a year old.