Press Your Nose To The Glass
Wonder at This Fun Group of Playful Members of the Weasel Family
Observe and learn about the North American river otter featuring a rescued otter – native to the Everglades – in a dynamic two-story indoor/outdoor space with a waterfall and pool. Guests can observe this playful, intelligent mammal up close and learn about its comeback and essential role in Florida’s aquatic ecosystems.
River otters are the only true amphibious member of the weasel family – and they love to have a good time!
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Did You Know?
Although called river otters, their name is somewhat misleading. River otters live in many different kinds of water throughout North America, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, coastal shorelines and marshes. Basically, they’ll live wherever they can find food and water to swim in, but they’re sensitive to pollution, so they won’t inhabit polluted waterways.
By the early 20th century, river otters were nearly driven to extinction by over-trapping, habitat loss and water pollution. They had disappeared from much of their North American range. However, as habitat conditions have improved over the past several decades and because of the success of several state reintroduction programs, river otters are making a comeback. They are now listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world’s leading conservation organization, as a species of least concern.
