How to find and tame an Otter in Ark: Survival Ascended

Otters are one of the most adorable creatures in Ark: Survival Ascended and are also useful, so taming them is advised.

When carried by a Survivor in Ark: Survival Ascended, Otters provide protection from the elements, allowing you to explore more comfortably, and can also harvest fish to collect Silica Pearls and Black Pearls.

If you want this cuddly friend to join you on your adventures, we have everything you need to know here.

Where to find an Otter in Ark: Survival Ascended

Otters can be found near rivers across The Island map in Ark: Survival Ascended, although the best spot for finding them is in the northern part of the river that circles the Redwood biome.

Unfortunately, this also happens to be one of the best spots on The Island to find Spinos, which is bad news for the Otters and your taming hopes.

You may, therefore, have better luck taming an Otter by locating one around the Southern Islets toward the bottom of the map, where there are fewer carnivores to worry about.

How to tame an Otter in Ark: Survival Ascended

Otters are tamed through non-violent methods in Ark: Survival Ascended and require a unique approach if they are to become your friend.

After you have located a wild Otter, kill fish nearby and drag the bodies to the Otter. When you reach the Otter, hit the interact button (E on PC, Y on Xbox, Triangle on PlayStation) to feed the fish to the Otter.

The best way to do this is to trap the Otter in a small area with structures to create a pen, making it easier to keep track of where it is and providing some protection from any hungry carnivores sniffing about. You can also lure Otters to a location using honey.

It may take several fish to fully tame the Otter, but they should remain nearby. Once you have fed one fish, a marker will appear on your map showing the location of the Otter.

The most effective fish to feed an Otter is the Sabertooth Salmon. But Piranhas nearby will instantly eat the Sabertooth Salmon or Coelacanth after they die. Therefore, it’s best to kill Piranhas first, even if you don’t feed them to the Otter.

Are Otters useful tames?

Otters aren’t just adorable creatures in Ark: Survival Ascended. They have their uses, making them a valuable tame to add to your collection—particularly as they can be found early in your progression.

You can use Otters to hunt fish, providing a valuable resource early on, with the bonus of being able to harvest Silica Pearls and Black Pearls from fish. However, their low weight stat means they can easily get overburdened and drown, so be careful when using this approach.

Otters also provide portable insulation, which can be increased further by leveling the Otter’s Melee Damage, providing valuable protection from the elements.

The downside, however, is that Otters have a very small amount of health and can easily be defeated by wild creatures, including Sabertooth Salmon and Piranhas, so don’t get too attached.