North American river otters eat mainly aquatic organisms such as amphibians, fish, turtles, crayfish, crabs, and other invertebrates. Birds, their eggs, and small terrestrial mammals are also eaten on occasion. They sometimes eat aquatic plants.

Prey is captured with the mouth, and mainly slow, non-game fish species are taken, e.g., suckers. The otter's long whiskers are used to detect organisms in the substrate and the dark water. Prey is eaten immediately after capture, usually in the water, although larger prey is eaten on land.

Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; fish; eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; aquatic crustaceans

Plant Foods: leaves; roots and tubers; macroalgae

Primary Diet: carnivore (Piscivore , Eats non-insect arthropods)