So Furry a Fish

Fish and aquatic invertebrates may form the bulk of an aquarium's collection, but the stars are usually the small number of air-breathing animals.  Sea turtles are immensely popular with the public, and many aquariums have penguins, but mammals, as always, are the ultimate crowd pleasers.  Marine mammals, such as seals, sea lions, and dolphins, are enormous draws - but they also come with a lot of expenses, permits, regulatory oversight, and, in the case of the later, controversy.

Probably not the surprising, then, that many smaller aquariums, as well as nature centers, feature the North American river otter as their star attraction.

NAROs, as they are often referred to in the zoo community, have a lot going for them as exhibit animals.  They are widely recognizable (at least as otters - I've heard a distressing number of visitors call them sea otters), found across virtually all of North America (so wherever your facility is, they can be displayed as a local native species), and are easily obtained, either from other facilities, from rehabbers, or, in some cases, from trappers.  Though aquatic, they are *not* marine mammals, so the legal and regulatory business of keeping them is far simpler than it is for, say, sea otters.  They are engaging, active, charismatic, and absolutely beloved by the public.

The downside of this, unfortunately, they show up in circumstances that they shouldn't be.

I wasn't dazzled by Oklahoma Aquarium's otter exhibit, but it wasn't the worst I've seen, and has been regrettably in keeping with some nature/science museum otter displays I've seen.  Indoors, hardscaped (lacking in softer natural elements, and with a reduced land area, the primary focus being on a pool with underwater viewing to provide up-close views with guests and otters.

River otters are one of those species that, with basic care, will "do ok" in zoos - they'll live long lives, be healthy, eat the diet, reproduce with some regularity - but "doing ok"  should be our baseline, not our end goal.  In order to thrive, otters need a habitat that is large enough and complex enough to engage in a variety of natural behaviors - not just swimming.  A big part of that, I feel, is the provision of a suitably large and suitably diverse land area - I've seen otters dig in the dirt, roll around in leaf litter, and even climb trees.  Being outdoors gives them exposure to a variety of stimuli, from the changing temperatures and light patterns to rainfall and snow to chance encounters with native wildlife, such as birds flying overhead or into the enclosure.

A lot of this is true for all animals - the benefit obtained from more complex, diverse habitats is obvious to many species.  It just seems to be that river otters, victims of their own popularity, perhaps, are one species that often seems to get the short end of the stick.