Page 10 - Abacoa Community News - Decembe '23

Page 10, Abacoa
Government

Northern Notes

“Otterly” Amazing Otters

By Katie Roundtree,
Director of Finance and
Administration, Northern
Palm Beach County
Improvement District
River otters are mainly
found in freshwater ponds,
streams, canals, and marshes
everywhere in Florida,
except the Keys. These
charismatic mammals are a and crustaceans. Their powerful teeth and jaws are Enjoy these native animals from afar. They are fun to
member of the weasel family made for catching and gripping onto slippery fish. An watch and known for their antics in and around the water.
and are comfortable both in and out of the water. Otters grow otter’s bite is approximately 615 pounds per square inch However, please do not approach them or try to pet them.
to about 40 inches, weighing between 10 to 30 pounds. They compared to the average person’s bite force of around They are far more likely to avoid humans than confront
have short legs, elongated bodies, webbed feet and a strong, 162 pounds per square inch. Their bite is comparable to them. Otters are apex predators and are wild creatures
flattened tail, which acts like a rudder in the water. Their a German Shepherd’s bite! River otters can easily chew – cute but certainly not cuddly.
nostrils and ears close to keep water out, and waterproof through the tough skin of armored catfish found in our NPDES tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet
fur keeps them warm. Otters have the densest coat of any area and eat the flesh underneath. waste is washed into lakes or canals the waste decays,
animal – as many as a million hairs per square inch in places. As cute as they are, otters are wild animals and should using up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia.
Because of this, otters were once hunted to near extinction be left alone. Please do not feed them and give them their Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm
for their fur. Their colors range from light brown to dark, rich space. They can be feisty and attack if threatened. River temperatures can kill fish and disrupt the natural food
brown. They are strong swimmers and can swim about 6 to 8 otters can occasionally create a nuisance by eating fish chain. Pet waste also contains nutrients that encourage
miles per hour, holding their breath for up to eight minutes. in hatcheries and stocked ponds or digging dens in pond weed and algae growth. Perhaps most importantly, pet
On land, however, they can run up to 15 miles per hour. banks. Keep stocked ponds covered or fenced to prevent waste carries diseases which make water unsafe.
Otters spend much time on land, often traveling otters from entering ponds.
considerable distances between waterways. Most otters have
at least one permanent burrow (den) by water. The burrow’s
a nest chamber above the high-water level. The burrows are Experience Dentistry with a Woman’s Touch
main entrance may be underwater. It then slopes upward to

built in the bank of a water body, often under tree roots. They
dig their own burrow or repurpose an abandoned beaver den.
Otters give birth in early spring to anywhere from one to Cosmetic & Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry
five babies. Baby otters, called pups or kits, stay with their
mothers until they’re up to a year old or until she has another State of the Art & Same Day Restorations
litter. Babies learn to swim when they are about 2 months
old when their mother introduces them to the water. Otters Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation Available
are natural swimmers and learn to swim quickly.
Active mainly at night, otters are excellent hunters.
Their diet consists primarily of fish, amphibians, insects Joanne Green, D.D.S.

10887 N. Military Trail, Suite 6
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561) 622-2815 • www.joannegreendds.com

Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry - Cum Laude
Hospital of the University of Penn - General Practice Residency Training
Harvard Dental School - Former Instructor
Boston Brigham and Women’s Dental Group - Staff Dentist

DR. RYAN CHIZNER

HAS JOINED PALM

BEACH CARDIOLOGY

CENTER

P.B.C.C. is pleased to welcome Dr. Ryan Chizner. Dr. Chizner
completed fellowships in cardiology and interventional
cardiology for which he is board certified.

In addition he holds board certification in Internal Medicine,
Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology and Vascular
Interpretation.

He has a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the Honors
Program at the University of Florida. He went on to complete
dual degrees with a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine and
Master of Public Health from Nova Southeastern University.

Previously, Dr. Chizner practiced Interventional Cardiology in
Central Florida and Georgia.
He is the Co-Author of a Bestselling textbook on Cardiac Drugs
for healthcare providers, which is now in its second edition.
He is thrilled to move closer to family in South Florida.

561-775-1061

3365 Burns Rd., Suite 101, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410