River Otter Vocalizations

When near one another, river otters communicate through body posture and by vocalizing. River otters have four basic call types: chirp, whine, hah, and chuckle. Different calls are correlated with different behaviors and may communicate safety, concern, or danger to other otters. 

Chirps are often produced by otters when they’re alone and calling out to another otter who is hopefully nearby. 

Hahs, or loud quick exhales of air, are often used as an alarm call or to signal concern, for example if another otter is too close to their food. 

Chuckles, quiet grunting sounds produced often in a series of two or three, are used frequently during a large number of behaviors, often as otters are investigating at a latrine site. 

Whines, continuous chirps (chatterchirps), and a combination of the two (chirp-whines) often signal that an otter is agitated. 

Email Sarahnwalkley@gmail.com for sounds files.