Can I Have a Pet Otter?
By WebMD Editorial Contributors
Reviewed by Vanessa Farner, DVM on July 08, 2021
https://pets.webmd.com/can-i-have-a-pet-otter
Otters are cute, furry water animals that hold hands and groom each other to bond. Because they’re so cute, there’s been a high demand to own them as pets.
Illegal poaching and sales have hurt the global otter population. Pet otters are sought after in many Asian countries like Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Do Otters Make Good Pets?
Freshwater otters live in family groups of up to 15 in the wild. When they’re captured and sold as pets, otters are not living their full, natural lives. Your bathtub or pool can’t substitute for the large bodies of water otters are naturally found in.
The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest species of otter. It is the most common type trapped and sold as pets. Many Asian countries have taken measures to protect them through bans and regulation.
Otters need space to roam. They aren’t easily housetrained and they’re very active, social animals. Keeping an otter as a solitary pet can make them very sad. Not having enough entertainment or putting stress on your pet otter can also lead to destructive, aggressive behavior. Living in captivity is simply not a good life for an otter.
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