SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Two river otters from the NEW Zoo in Suamico escaped their habitat during the latest winter storm and zookeepers are looking for them.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, North American river otters, Louie and Ophelia, got out through a small breach in buried fencing.
The zoo says their absence was noticed immediately by zookeepers doing morning rounds and the standard operating procedures for animal escapes was activated.
There were fresh tracks in the snow and a professional tracker was brought in to assist with locating the pair.
According to the zoo:
Tracks and overnight camera footage showed that both otters appeared to have enjoyed the snowfall, romping around the zoo, frequently sliding on their bellies and exploring nearby water bodies. Prints showed they traveled through Reforestation Camp property, circling back to the zoo perimeter fence repeatedly, never straying particularly far from home. This behavior is very typical for otters, as they are territorial and prefer to stay close to what’s comfortable and known to them.
Both Louie and Ophelia were born in the wild and brought into human care through a process of rehabilitation. North American river otters are native to our area and are very comfortable and capable of surviving in Wisconsin’s climate. The Zoo is surrounded by natural ponds and other waterways which provide ample food and safe places to sleep even at this time of year.
It is likely that Louie and Ophelia will remain close by, possibly even returning to their habitat on their own. Neither Louie nor Ophelia presents a danger to the public, and it is highly unlikely that they would approach people. The Zoo is utilizing a series of motion-activated cameras and other devices to monitor the area for signs of their activity and will continue to work with professional trackers to do everything possible to locate and bring them home.
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