A Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, increase in the Maritimes: Implications to Black Ducks, Anas rubripes

1981 approximately 300 m downstream from the site of my observation.Adult female otters have been reported to capture and provide prey to offspring participating in hunts (Rock et al. 1994; Sheldon and Toll 1964).The foraging behavior I observed probably developed while the juvenile otters transitioned from reliance on obtaining prey from the female parent to independent foraging.I suspect foraging success and development of hunting skills by juvenile otters is enhanced by group behaviors that concentrate prey.