Animal Population
Otter Population by State 2026
Otter Population Trend
Increasing
Stable
Uncertain
State | Otter Population Trend↓ | |
|---|---|---|
 | Arizona | Uncertain |
 | Washington | Uncertain |
 | Alaska | Stable |
 | Arkansas | Stable |
 | California | Stable |
 | Connecticut | Stable |
 | Florida | Stable |
 | Georgia | Stable |
 | Idaho | Stable |
 | Iowa | Stable |
 | Louisiana | Stable |
 | Massachusetts | Stable |
 | Michigan | Stable |
 | Minnesota | Stable |
 | Mississippi | Stable |
 | Missouri | Stable |
 | Nevada | Stable |
 | New Hampshire | Stable |
 | New Jersey | Stable |
 | North Dakota | Stable |
 | Oregon | Stable |
 | Pennsylvania | Stable |
 | Rhode Island | Stable |
 | South Carolina | Stable |
 | Texas | Stable |
 | Utah | Stable |
 | West Virginia | Stable |
 | Alabama | Increasing |
 | Colorado | Increasing |
 | Delaware | Increasing |
 | Illinois | Increasing |
 | Indiana | Increasing |
 | Kansas | Increasing |
 | Kentucky | Increasing |
 | Maine | Increasing |
 | Maryland | Increasing |
 | Montana | Increasing |
 | Nebraska | Increasing |
 | New Mexico | Increasing |
 | New York | Increasing |
 | North Carolina | Increasing |
 | Ohio | Increasing |
 | Oklahoma | Increasing |
 | South Dakota | Increasing |
 | Tennessee | Increasing |
 | Vermont | Increasing |
 | Virginia | Increasing |
 | Wisconsin | Increasing |
 | Wyoming | Increasing |
- The total estimated population of river otters in the United States is roughly 300,000, based on historical harvest data and extrapolation from annual trapping numbers. River otters are difficult to count directly, and per-state estimates appear unavailable.
- Sea otters in the United States consist of two subspecies: northern and southern. Northern sea otters inhabit coastal waters from Alaska to Washington, with occasional sightings in Oregon. Of the nearly 100,000 northern sea otters in U.S. waters, more than 95,000 live in Alaska, with an additional 2,000 to 3,000 in Washington.
- The Southwest Alaska population of sea otters has declined, likely due to predation by orcas, and is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
- See also: Pet Otter Legal States, Otter Population by Country.
Sources
- The Great Sea Otter Comeback - PERC
- Sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) - Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Moving sea otters up the Northern California and Oregon coast is feasible, federal government concludes - Science X
- River otter - Minnesota DNR
- Otters in the Northwoods - The Masked Biologist
- Otter (Lutra canadensis) - Louisiana Fur Advisory Council
