Meet the North American river otter. These semi-aquatic members of the Mustelid (weasel) family are geared up for Mount Rainier’s chilly waters. From thick water-repellent fur to ears and nostrils that close, they’re built to spend hours swimming and hunting in glacier-fed rivers and ponds. River otters have short legs, webbed feet, a long, narrow body, and flattened head. They have vibrissae, or sensory hairs, on their snouts that sense turbulence and help them locate prey. A strong tail helps