north american river otter Archives

Come see Mystie, the new North American river otter at Lincoln Park Zoo! Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago welcomed a new female North American river otter in May! One-year-old Mystie joins Tucker, a seven-year-old otter already living at the zoo. The two will be companions.

“North American river otters are full of energy, and Mystie is no exception. This is a playful species, and we’ve already seen her utilizing all the landscape and water features at Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo,” said Curator Dan Boehm.

Mystie, the new river otter at Lincoln Park Zoo

Mystie enjoying her new habitat at Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo. Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

North American river otters are semi aquatic. They live in areas where there are permanent water sources, like rivers, creeks and streams. In the wild, some river otters live alone, while others live in groups.

Learn more at the Lincoln Park Zoo website.

Oakland Zoo staff perform regular checkups on the newest members of the river otter family. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

On Mother’s Day, two North American river otters at the Oakland Zoo had lots to celebrate. The two new moms have had their paws full with three pups each for the past few months.

Rose, the younger of the two moms, gave birth to a litter of two males and one female on January 25. A few weeks later, on February 20, Ginger gave birth to a litter of two females and one male.

Zoo staff has been monitoring the pups and administering regular checkups to ensure they are in good health. The pups have remained off exhibit while they nurse, grow, and learn to swim. (Swimming is not instinctual for otter pups.)

Photo by Oakland Zoo.

Photo by Oakland Zoo.

To learn more, visit the Oakland Zoo website.

Tag Archives: north american river otter

Aww! New River Otter at Lincoln Park Zoo

Baby River Otters at Oakland Zoo