BOEGE-TOBIN, D.D.*; TANG-MARTINEZ, Z.; BOURNE, G.R.; Univ. of Missouri-St. Louis; Univ. of Missouri-St. Louis; Univ. of Missouri-St. Louis: Movement, Home Range and Core Area Use Patterns in Two Populations of North American River Otters (Lontra canadensis).

North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) were radio-implanted and subsequently tracked for 11-20 months at two locations in Missouri. Home range and core area use dynamics for these two populations were evaluated using three different spatial analysis packages. Individual animal movement patterns were examined using the ArcView GIS Animal Movement Extension and were evaluated spatially and temporally, from both a daily and seasonal perspective. Comparisons between the two sites and among individuals of different age and sex classes will be reported.