be possible to build an enclosure which would include running water 
and access to dry areas. This would be expensive and has not been 
attempted. Otters were brought to Seattle in dry cages aboard ship 
and by air. These animals became soaked to the skin immediately on 
entering the water and only survived because of warm weather in Seattle 
or painstaking care by zoo employees and biologists who dried and warmed 
the animals, in some cases with towels, shredded paper, and electric 
heaters. 
TRANSPLANT IN 1959 
In view of the experiences outlined above, an experimental pilot 
transplant was planned for 1959. The most important aspects of this 
experiment were: (1) Subadult otters would be captured and held for an 
adjustment period of approximately 2 weeks before transport time. (2) 
They would be flown direct from Amchitka to St. Paul Island, eliminat- 
ing the need for feeding while in transit. (3) Temperatures in the 
aircraft would be kept below 50°, and the aircraft would maintain an 
altitude of about 2,000 feet. (4) Specially constructed cages with 
raised floors of wire mesh would be used to prevent soiling the fur 
by feces and urine. These conditions were all met, and the trans- 
plant was accomplished successfully as recounted below. 
From 6 to 8 May, during a severe storm, 10 subadult otters were 
captured and placed in the pool enclosure. Three animals died because 
they were in weakened condition when captured. Furthermore, the 
Amchitka pool was too small for 10 otters. Unless the animals are 
healthy when captured their chance of survival is reduced by crowding 
and competition for food. Therefore, when animals died they were not 
replaced. 
On 20 May, seven otters, four females and three males, approxi- 
mately 1 year old, weighing 26 to 36 pounds and bearing numbered Monel- 
metal tags on the hind flipperl/, were taken to St. Paul Island by 
direct flight, at or below 2,000 feet altitude, on the Fish and Wildlife 
R4D plane (fig. 8). During flight, when the animals became excited they 
were given drinking water directly from a bottle, and their fur was 
sprinkled with water to help control temperature. Even at a cabin 
temperature of 48° - 49° F. restless animals exhibited distress from 
overheating before water was used. The animals were liberated near a 
reef at Polovina Point within 20 minutes after landing. All appeared 
in excellent condition and, except for one, each accepted and ate a 
fish as it swam from shore. When liberated the animals scattered. 
On 21 May, Dave Spencer and Karl Kenyon watched one otter for some 
time from the cliffs of Reef Rookery (3 miles from the point of release). 
This animal was eating a large sea urchin and appeared contented and in 
1/ Tag numbers, females: EL 432, EL 435, EL 438, and EL 12921; males: 
EL 428, EL 437, and EL 443. 
17 
