Meet Teeter-Totter the Otter, Mon County’s new Parks and Rec mascot

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — Monongalia County residents may have recently spotted a new furry face at Parks and Recreation events — Meet Teeter-Totter the Otter, the new official Mascot of Monongalia County Parks and Recreation.

Teeter-Totter made his first public appearance on April 27 at the Ramp Dinner & Vendor Show held at Mason Dixon Historical Park, the same place where Parks and Rec officials said they got the inspiration to make the otter their official mascot.

Director of Parks & Recreation J.R. Petsko said they chose the otter after an encounter with a mother otter floating down Dunkard Creek.

“The otter embodies the playful spirit, natural beauty, and sense of adventure that define our parks and recreational activities,” Petsko said in an email to 12 News. “This encounter was more than just a chance sighting—it was a moment of connection with nature, a reminder of the beauty and vitality of our surroundings.”

After the otter sighting, a suit was donated to the county by Robin Ammons, a Monongalia County community member.

Petsko said that having a mascot will enable Mon County Parks and Rec to add “excitement, personality, and a sense of fun,” to Parks and Rec events, and will especially resonate with children and their love of the outdoors.

Below is a list of all the upcoming events planned by Monongalia County Parks and Recreation for 2024. Although Teeter-Totter the Otter may not be at every event, Petsko says people should expect to see the new mascot at a majority of Parks and Rec events.

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