REPRODUCTION IN OTTERS IN BYELARUS AND NORTH-WESTERN RUSSIA

Between 1967 and 1991, otters Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) were collec ted from Belarus and NW Russia (St. Petersburg, Pskov, and Novgorod re gions). Reproductive status was assessed by histological study of the reproductive organs of 99 otters. Reproductive maturity was recorded i n otters greater-than-or-equal-to 2 years old. No definite breeding pe riod could be determined. The uteri of 10 females contained from 2 to 4 non-resorbing embryos, 2.6 on average. The sizes of 81 litters of bl ind cubs were counted; an average of 2.6 cubs per litter was recorded.