Otter News Archive

Otters getting new home

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8th April 2010

Carolyn Scofield

WPTV-TV, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FL - Who knew otters squeaked?

I certainly didn't before getting into an enclosure with three young otters at Arnold's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

Franklin, Webster and their new female companion squeaked their disapproval at me joining them, but curiosity and hunger quickly took over.

They were soon smudging up my camera lens with their fishy noses.

The three otters are currently crammed in a small pen that usually houses Arnold's small alligator.

It has been displaced until next month, when the otters move into their new, state-of-the-art digs.

"We're going to be shooting colored water all over the place," says Frank Adams, a local pool builder who came up with the idea for the otter house.  "There's a tunnel that goes in over there where they'll swim in at the three foot deep in."

Adams solicited help from local businesses, including Marc Sandlin of Style Studios Custom Motorcycles in Okeechobee.

Sandlin will emcee Otter Fest this Saturday.  The event will help fund the new otter house and all of the animals that come through Arnold's every year.

Last year, the center took in more than 800 animals.  More than 65% of those were returned to the wild.

Franklin, an otter who came to Arnold's after being hit by a car, will stay here for the rest of its life. 

"We had to bottle feed it and we had to really work with it and so unfortunately, it became imprinted," says Sue Arnold.

He'll certainly be living the high-life at Arnold's.

As for the displaced alligator, Adams already has plans to build it a new enclosure.

Otter Fest runs from noon to dusk this Saturday.  The event will be held at Arnold's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, located at 4895 N.W. 30th Terrace, off U.S. 441 N. in Okeechobee.  It's about 10 miles north of the intersection of 441 and Hwy 70.

RSVP donation tickets are still available for $25.  That includes admission for 2 adults.  Tickets are $40 at the gate. 

Kids 12 and under are free.

For more information, call Frank at (772) 766-6137.