🦦 North American river otter report template
Three versions, one page each. Print the one for your child’s grade. The facts come from the North American river otter page, every number with its source.
Grades 1–2
My report: the north American river otter
Lontra canadensis · Grades 1–2
| Length | 3.3 to 4.5 ft (1 to 1.4 m) |
|---|---|
| Height at the shoulder | not checked yet: look it up! |
| Weight | not checked yet: look it up! |
| Top speed | 15 mph (24 km/h) |
| How long it lives | not checked yet: look it up! |
Read about it
River otters love to play. They slide on mud and snow, then splash into the water. They have webbed feet and a long, strong tail.
It lives in:
It eats:
The coolest thing I learned:
Where my facts came from
- National Park Service, Yellowstone, nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/river-otter.htm, checked 2026-10-30
Grades 3–4
My report: the north American river otter
Lontra canadensis · Grades 3–4
| Length | 3.3 to 4.5 ft (1 to 1.4 m) |
|---|---|
| Height at the shoulder | not checked yet: look it up! |
| Weight | not checked yet: look it up! |
| Top speed | 15 mph (24 km/h) |
| How long it lives | not checked yet: look it up! |
Read about it
A river otter's thick fur keeps it warm, and its webbed feet, strong tail and whiskers make it a great swimmer. It can close its ears and nose when it dives. Otter pups have to be taught to swim by their mother.
Where it lives (its habitat):
What it eats:
How its body helps it live there:
My favorite fact:
A question I still have:
Where my facts came from
- National Park Service, Yellowstone, nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/river-otter.htm, checked 2026-10-30
Grades 5–6
My report: the north American river otter
Lontra canadensis · Grades 5–6
| Length | 3.3 to 4.5 ft (1 to 1.4 m) |
|---|---|
| Height at the shoulder | not checked yet: look it up! |
| Weight | not checked yet: look it up! |
| Top speed | 15 mph (24 km/h) |
| How long it lives | not checked yet: look it up! |
Read about it
North American river otters are in the weasel family, with two layers of fur: long hairs on top and a soft, thick coat underneath that traps air to keep the otter warm. Otters play a lot, and scientists think play helps young otters learn and stay together as a family. Because otters need clean water full of fish, they are a good sign of a healthy river. Pollution and hunting once made them rare in many places, but after cleanups and protection, otters are back in many rivers.
Habitat and range: where on Earth, and what the place is like:
Diet: what it eats, and what might eat it:
Adaptations: two ways its body or habits help it survive:
Is it in danger? Why or why not?:
Compare it with another animal you know:
Bibliography: write each source below as site, page title, date checked:
Where my facts came from
- National Park Service, Yellowstone, nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/river-otter.htm, checked 2026-10-30