For my 9 year old who is writing a paper for school, do river otters hibernate? How do they survive winters?

The information that I have found is that they do not hibernate in the winter and they do not store food over the winter.

Your nine-year-old son may find the following sites interesting and helpful. I hope that he does.

http://www.geocities.com/bobarnebeck/habits.html

Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency: River Otter

River Otter (Lutra canadensis)

Illinois Furbearer Guide: River Otter

River Otter: Wildlife Notebook Series - Alaska Department of Fish and Game

River Otter: Wildlife Notebook Series - Alaska Department of Fish and Game