Potter Park Zoo welcomed adorable River Otter triplets and asked the public for help giving them their names.
On April 22, 2024, Potter Park Zoo, located in Michigan, announced that it is seeking help choosing names for its otter pups. Take a look.
On February 13, 2024, Potter Park Zoo announced that it had welcomed a trio of North American River Otter pups.
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The three babies were born on February 2. According to a blog post on Potter Park Zoo's website, the new babies were Nkeke's fourth litter and her second set of triplets.
"At just one day old, the otter pups underwent a quick physical examination to assess their health and development," the zoo shared at the time. "Weighing in at 113 grams, 109 grams, and 96 grams, respectively, these little bundles of fur weighed as much as a deck of playing cards. While initial examinations look promising, Potter Park Zoo’s Director of Animal Health, Dr. Ronan Eustace, acknowledges the challenges associated with raising triplets."
So far, all is going well with Mom and the triplets, and recently, the zoo asked for people to chime in on choosing the best names for the trio.
"Help us name our otter pups!" the zoo shared on Facebook on April 22, 2024. "Make a splash with a special donation to the Potter Park Zoological Society and cast your vote for their names. Every $5 donated counts as a vote (e.g., $10 = 2 votes)! Your contributions will support Potter Park Zoo's mission of inspiring conservation of animals and the natural world."
The name options include:
- Marlin, Irwin, and Jane
- Stanley, Carson, and Ivy
- Copper, Petoskey (aka Petey), and Isabella
While announcing this, the zoo shared a cute video of the triplets playing together in the grass.
In another social update, the zoo mentioned that one group of names was taking a strong lead as the favorites.
"Here's the current leaderboard," the zoo shared on April 28.
In first place, with a very commanding lead, was Copper, Petoskey, and Isabella, with 115 votes.
Second place went to Marlin, Irwin, and Jane with 32 votes, and in third place were Stanley, Carson, and Ivy, which had 12 votes.
It's pretty clear which name set will win unless there is a fast push for another group to win. For now, we'll have to wait.
Facts About North American River Otters
According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), North American River Otters are listed as being of "least concern," which is a good thing for their population since it hasn't always been steady.
The organization shares, "The North American River Otter had declined substantially throughout large portions of its historic range due to unregulated trapping, water pollution, and habitat degradation, but it has recovered in most jurisdictions in which conservation actions are typically defined."
"With the exception of Prince Edward Island, Canada, populations of North American river otters are now stable or expanding among conservation jurisdictions, although diligence is needed to ensure that historical problems encountered by the species do not reoccur."
According to the National Wildlife Federation ( NWF ), River Otters are playful mammals that can be found in the United States and Canada. They love to live in water habitats including rivers, lakes, marhes, and estuaries. These animals don't mind cold water, thanks to their thick fur, but like to be where ther are loads of fish, crabs, equatic plans, and small mammals to keep them well-fed.
River Otters like to make loads of noises when talking with each other, including screams, growls, yelps, and whistles, and can throw off a strong, musky smell when they need to, thanks to a scent gland near their tail.
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