Celebrating World Otter Day | News, Sports, Jobs

There will be two otter programs at noon and 3:30 p.m., a lunchtime Facebook livestream at 2 p.m. and a fish feeding at 3 p.m. There are also “Creature Features” at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

All day, there will be otter crafts in the museum’s “Tinkering Studio.”

Wild Center Curator Leah Valerio said she loves talking about the otters. They have an inspirational success story in New York.

“It wasn’t that long ago that they were threatened in New York state,” Valerio said. “But now, actually, they’re doing fine. They’re not under any protections.”

Rohsno:re the otter is seen here at the Wild Center nature museum on Tuesday.
(Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

In the 1900s, otters were heavily trapped for their fur. Eventually, the state put limits on trapping to prevent over-trapping. In the 1970s and 1980s, lots of natural waterways became heavily polluted. Since then, the state has worked on cleaning up its waters. These pollution problems never plagued Adirondack otters, though.

In the 1990s, Valerio said there was a reintroduction effort, taking around 300 otters from the Adirondacks and Catskills and repopulating other regions of the state.

Valerio said this “comeback story” is an example of how animal protection can be done and replicated elsewhere.

Valerio also said the otters are fan favorites of museum visitors because of how active and playful they are.

“They’re naturally curious animals,” Valerio said, what she calls “scare-curious.”

Rohsno:re the otter is seen here at the Wild Center nature museum on Tuesday.
(Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

When things frighten them, they want to check them out.

The Wild Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Admission tickets cost $23 for adults and $13 for children over 4 years old.

Rohsno:re the otter is seen here at the Wild Center nature museum on Tuesday.
(Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Museum-goers look at the otter tank at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)