River Otter

River otters once thrived throughout much of the United States. Trapping caused the decline or extinction of many state populations. Fortunately, 21 states have actively worked to restore or reintroduce otters.

Read Background and Recovery

Management and Policy

Defenders of Wildlife is a member of the new Mexico River Otter Working Group, a broad-based coalition formed to implement a strategy to promote the restoration of the river otter to the rivers of New Mexico. After years of effort, the Group achieved an important goal when the New Mexico Game Commission directed the Department of Game and Fish on August 24, 2006 to proceed with plans to reintroduce river otters to sections of the upper Rio Grande and the upper Gila River and that the reintroductions should occur in the Fall of 2007.

Read More