Otter Looking for Love in All the (Right) Places

This past week, a wild otter found its way into the otter "digs" at the Play Park exhibit of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. This past Monday morning, the keeper was surprised to discover an extra animal in the exhibit that houses a male and two female North American river otters.

The exhibit is designed to keep otters in, with unclimbable walls in the back and a glass walled stream in the front. It wasn't designed to keep otters out and apparently, this animal had jumped into the exhibit from the berm above.

Historically, otters had become rare due to hunting for their beautiful pelts, but a restocking and protection program over the past 20 years has re-introduced the species back into its range. The Jacksonville Zoo is located on the Trout River and occasionally, wild otters are seen in the area.

But what was the otter doing that led it to the Zoo's open-air exhibit? In the north, spring's warming trend and lengthening days are thought to be triggers for the breeding season. It was suggested that this male -- an adult, at 21 pounds, was attracted by the scent of the Zoo's females. He may have noticed a steep bank, and slid down, or dove into the water, only realizing too late that he was trapped on exhibit.

Within minutes, the frightened animal was coaxed into a crate, while Florida wildlife officials were informed of the "break-in." The mammal curator snapped the above photograph. He emailed the photo to staff, as an "APB," in case anyone would see it again, and recognize this first offender. That same afternoon, on the state's recommendation, the wild otter was released at the Trout river.

The Jacksonville Times Union ran a story about the errant otter, and the tale was also picked up by the Wall Street Journal. Zoo staff thinks that a story of a lonely otter looking for love at the zoo was well-themed for Valentines. As a result of this unusual occurance, the back of the exhibit was "otterfied" to be off limits.

Photo by C. Miller