Otter Introductions

Some of you already know my fascination with river otters. For a few decades, international conservation of otters was a cornerstone of my career, and otters were the love of my life, only surpassed by Bucko. Years ago, I raised orphaned river otters in California. They imprinted on me, and I spent hours and hours with an otter on a leash explaining about wetlands to visitors at Marine World Africa USA in Northern California. My four North American river otters loved me like a member of their clan for their entire dozen or so years of life. But they could not be handled by anyone else — these people were viewed by these imprinted otters as members of opposing clans, and were not welcome in their territory without biting attacks.

My “firstborn” otter, Albion, eventually became a bit aggressive, even with me, and it was time to find him a new home. The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago was opening a new river otter exhibit, and my male Albion was slated to join female Fency there. As these things go, the deadline for the opening was rapidly approaching and Albion wasn’t yet there. So, we put him in a dog carrier, and I boarded a cargo 747 airplane with him in tow. I was the only passenger, along with a pilot and copilot. Albion and I were situated in a seat right behind the crew, and I watched with awe through the cockpit window as we took off down the runway. But then my troubles began. Albion was not happy. Soon, he was chirping in distress and using his entire body strength to push on the top of the crate, nearly releasing the pins holding the door shut. Despite my attempts to soothe him with fish and ice cubes, Albion wanted OUT! Throughout the flight I was concocting scenarios in my mind if he escaped. Would he attack the pilots? Would the plane crash? I was worried. But I had a plan. If Albion did get out I would grab him by the scruff, he would go into his baby relaxed — mother-holding-him-by-the-scruff-mode — and I would rush into the bathroom and lock us both inside. Luckily, we didn’t need to do this.

But arriving at Shedd Aquarium, there were only a couple days that Fency and Albion had in adjacent cages to get used to each other, and then, prematurely, but for the opening of the exhibit, we released both together into the enclosure. And all hell broke loose. Not a good introduction at all and the aftermath was seared in my memory.

All this was on my mind this summer when I followed Jonathan’s progress in Hilliard at Otter Space Wildlife (formerly the ARK), building a new huge otter enclosure and pool beside another large area already inhabited by “the boys” Felony and Gangsta. A third otter, a female named Vedra, had been housed in a large concrete enclosure with pools, toys, etc., but she had never seen natural ground, the sky, or anything about the wild. So once the new enclosure was ready, I showed up to watch Vedra’s introduction into this new paradise with a huge pool, grass and turf, palm trees, and bamboo — a perfect otter home. But Vedra was terrified. She wouldn’t touch the grass and spent stressful days staying on the concrete area of the pool, not even entering it. Whenever Jonathon, her “parent,” went into the enclosure she glommed onto him, wanting comfort and reassurance. This whole new world was scary to her and not the happy romp we all expected.

Watch this YouTube video of Vedra and Jonathan.

But eventually Vedra got used to her new environment, and ran freely through the grass, under the bamboo, into the pool, all looking like fun at last. During these first couple of weeks, Felony and Gangsta were in the adjacent exhibit, with open bars at a door separating them from Vedra where they could all safely smell, vocalize and see each other. Felony was the first male let in with her for a supervised session. Vedra snarled at him, and he left her alone, but he was soon returned to his pen with Gangsta. Another week or so passed, and the two sets of otters spent more time near each other interacting through the grate. And then the long-awaited day was set. Both “boys” were going to be put into the enclosure with Vedra, who was now fully comfortable in her space.

I showed up for this moment, full of apprehension stemming from my own bad otter introduction session at Shedd Aquarium so long ago. But it was amazing! Jonathan and his helper George tossed a bunch of baitfish into the large pool, and all three otters — now together for the first time — spent all their individual energy chasing and catching fish and mostly ignoring one another. And when they did interact it was if they had been roommates for months. See this YouTube video of all three otters enjoying their first time together. 

Now, all is well at Otter Space, but this is only part of Jonathan’s efforts. His facility now houses 96 foxes, mostly rescued from a fur farm, and bobcats, caracals, raccoons, scores of deer and a myriad of other animals that one way or another need sanctuary. Jonathan needs all the support he can get in this massive and expensive undertaking. If you want to help, check out his website to learn more. The otters and others will appreciate you!

Pat Foster-Turley, Ph.D., is a zoologist on Amelia Island. She welcomes your nature questions and observations. [email protected]