- Food: Rivers provide otters with a plentiful food supply. Otters are carnivores, and their diet consists primarily of fish, frogs, crayfish, and other aquatic animals. Rivers provide an abundance of these food sources, making it an ideal place for otters to live.
- Habitat: Rivers provide otters with a suitable habitat in which to live. Otters need access to water for swimming and fishing, and they also need land for resting and denning. Rivers provide both of these things, making them an ideal place for otters to call home.
- Temperature regulation: Rivers provide otters with a way to regulate their body temperature. Otters are very active animals, and they need to be able to cool down when they get too hot. Rivers provide a cool, refreshing place for otters to swim and play.
- Protection: Rivers provide otters with protection from predators. Otters are preyed upon by a variety of animals, including coyotes, wolves, bears, and mountain lions. Rivers provide a barrier that can help otters to avoid these predators.
- Social interaction: Rivers provide otters with a place to socialize with other otters. Otters are social animals, and they enjoy interacting with each other. Rivers provide a place for otters to meet and play, and they also help to disperse otters throughout their range.
