Ijsmuis Otter
The Ijsmuis Otter is a member of the weasel family. It is also known as the Powys River Otter, although they are found in relative abundance throughout the northern IDU mainland. They tend to inhabit inland waterways and coastal areas. However, their numbers have significantly dropped in Domnonia since Keeslanders began settling the region.
Appearance
Ijsmuis Otters have muscular bodies with short legs, webbed toes and a long muscular tail. Its body can measure between 50cm to 100cm, and their tail measure is between 26cm to 35cm. River otters have a round and small head and eyes, short yet powerful legs, and have large whiskers. They have glossy dark brown fur and their throat is often silver grey. Ijsmuis Otters are powerful swimmers, but can also travel quickly on land and often propel themselves into a rapid slide on their bellies on snow or ice; they also like to slide down river banks into the water.
Occurrence
Ijsmuis Otters have their dens on land, and they hunt in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, including lakes, rivers, inland wetlands and swamps, coastal marshes and even the open ocean. In many areas of the mainland IDU, the damming activities of the beaver creates ideal habitat for otters.
Native
Non-native
Significance
Ijsmuis Otters are trapped for their highly-prized fur. Over harvest by Keeslandic settlers in the 1800s has led to their disappearance from many parts of their historical range. Trapping is still permitted in some areas where otters remain abundant. In other areas, the Ijsmuis Otter is being restored to places where it may have long since been hunted to near extinction, such as the Qu'Maen Basin.
