Dusty

by AnnaJo Vahle

Buy the Original Painting

Price

Not Specified

Dimensions

30.000 x 15.000 x 1.000 inches

Title

Dusty

Artist

AnnaJo Vahle

Medium

Painting - Acrylic On Canvas

Description

The otter rolled around in the dry dust of a dirt road atop one of the levees. It flipped the dirt into the air all over himself for quite a long time. He made a large dust cloud. He paused for a moment. He stood up on his stumpy short legs and scampered and slid down the side of the levee and dove into the swampy water.
I searched the internet trying to find out why the otter gave himself a dustbath. I have witnessed this behavior a couple of different times in the Viera Wetlands near Melbourne, Florida.
I found this information on the internet...
Dust bathing is also called sand bathing. It is an animal behavior characterized by rolling or moving around in dust, dry earth or sand. The likely purpose is to remove parasites from fur or skin. It may be a way of transmitting chemical signals or pheromones to the ground which marks and individual's territory. It has been suggested that wallowing in the dust may leave a “pungent odor in the dust bathing area.”
This water-loving animal is found throughout Florida except in the Keys. River otters usually prefer fresh water and can be found in rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, and swamps. Otters live in burrows on the bank of the water body, often under tree roots. They may dig their own burrow or remodel a beaver's burrow.
Flexing their long bodies up and down, paddling with their webbed hind feet, and using their feet and strong tails to steer, river otters are underwater acrobats. They can stay underwater for up to four minutes.
While river otters spend most of their time in water, they do travel across land as well—often in search of a mate. Otters even make their land travel look playful. They run a few steps and then slide on their bellies. Clearly, otters know how to have fun!

Uploaded

September 25th, 2021

Colors

Embed

Share

Tags