SUAMICO — Two river otters that escaped Thursday from the NEW Zoo in Suamico are in no danger and have remained close to home, officials said Friday.
According to a statement from the zoo, North American river otters Louie and Ophelia left their habitat, Thursday during the snow storm through a small breach in buried fencing that they managed to enlarge just enough to get out.
Their absence was noted immediately by zookeepers doing morning rounds and standard operating procedures for animal escapes were activated. Tracks in the fresh snow were evident, and a professional tracker was brought in to assist with locating the pair.
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.
Updates about this situation will be shared on our website as they become available https://buff.ly/MbVzWh4
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