NATURALIST'S 



NOTEBOOK 



Fort Fisher aquarium. 



The cost of the exhibit created for 

 Fisher was only $1 ,500 — a mere fraction 

 of the expense for building an exhibit today. 

 Nonetheless, the river otter entertained crowds 

 with her acrobatic underwater behavior. 



Fisher passed away long ago, and Lanier 

 retired in 2003. However, river otters continue 



to be a popular attraction at aquariums and 

 zoos here and throughout the United States. 



"They're real crowd-pleasers," says Lanier. 

 "When they're out there playing, they really put 

 on a show." 



But the attack on his hand isn't the only 

 not-so-fond memory Lanier has of river otters, 

 especially Fisher. 



Once, he took her to the veterinarian 

 because of an illness. She didn't appreciate the 

 doctor's presence and took a bite at him, as well 



"I couldn't imagine river otters as pets 

 — not to mention it's highly illegal to have one 

 without a permit," says Lanier. 



An aquarist's biggest problem is putting 

 objects in a river otters' exhibit that the animals 

 won't destroy, according to Lanier. 



"One time they completely dismantled an 

 air conditioner in the exhibit," says Lanier. "If 

 someone had river otters as pets, they would 

 make a mess of the house." 



But is having a river otter exhibit really 

 worth all the trouble? 



"Absolutely," exclaims Lanier. "Everything 

 is a problem of some sort, but they're well 

 worth it." □ 



SEE FOR YOURSELF 



River otter exhibits in North 

 Carolina include: 



• The N.C. Aquarium at Roanoke 

 Island, Manteo: This river otter exhibit 

 boasts an 8,000-gallon aquarium 

 and a 25-foot-by-4-foot land area 

 for one female and two male river 

 otters. Contact: 866/332-3475, www. 

 ncacjuariums.com. 



• Western N.C. Nature Center, 

 Asheville: The river otter habitat 

 includes a viewing area from a variety 

 of angles. The landscape includes 

 man-made rocks, trees, a stream and 

 a pond. Two male river otters inhabit 

 this exhibit. Contact: 828/298-5600, 

 www.wildwnc.org. 



• North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro: 



A tunnel connects two exhibit sections, 

 so the river otters have access to both 

 sides. One section has a pool with glass 

 viewing for the public. The other is an 

 outdoor exhibit with a public viewing 

 from above. This exhibit houses two 

 female river otters. Contact: 800/488- 

 0444, www.naoo.org. 



OTTERLY FASCINATING 



• Latin name: Lutra canadensis. 



• Average size: 3- to 4-feet long, 

 including tail. 



• Average weight: 40 to 80 pounds. 



• Range: All over United States. 



• Preferred habitat: Lakes, ponds, 

 rivers. They live under tree roots 

 and in abandoned beaver dams. 



COASTWATCH 23 



