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North American River Otter Exhibit Reopened at Cape May County Zoo

North American River Otter Exhibit Reopened at Cape May County Zoo

By Press Release

COURT HOUSE – Cape May County’s resident pair of North American River Otters has officially moved back into their newly renovated habitat at the Zoo, and they seem to love being part of the otter version of “Extreme Makeover”.  These playful otters are enjoying their refurbished home and can be seen in and out of the water throughout the day. The otter exhibit has viewing windows that allow visitors to see them and enjoy their antics from many angles. 
The otter exhibit was in need of general maintenance and as part of the improvements the pool area was resurfaced to address some cracks and leakage. The entire exhibit was repainted and updated. The project was completed by the Park and Zoo staff with community involvement. Art students and their teachers from Lower Cape May Regional, Middle Township and Ocean City High Schools painted a landscape mural depicting a marsh scene, and Park and Zoo staff did the other improvements to the exhibit.
Freeholder E. Marie Hayes, who oversees the Cape May County Park and Zoo, invites the public to see the new exhibit and to watch the otters as they romp around their habitat. 
“We are always proud of the work done by the staff at the Park and Zoo, and this is no exception, stated Hayes in a release. “This was a joint project that included art students from our local high schools and showcases the amazing talents of our students and staff.” 
There are two North American River Otters at the Cape May County Zoo, a male and female. The female, named Annie, was born in 2003, and came from North Dakota. The male, named Mork, was born in 2009, and came from Nebraska. North American River Otter numbers have declined over the years due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and trapping for their coats. Thanks to nationwide efforts to reduce pollution in water ways, Otters have been reintroduced to some of their former habitats.  
The North American or Northern river otter is at home in the water and on land. The adult otter grows to between 21 and 31 inches with a tail between 11 and 19 inches and can weigh up to 30 pounds. These otters have webbed feet and swim by propelling themselves with their tails and flexing their long bodies. They remain active in winter, using ice holes to surface and breathe.  They can hold their breath underwater for up to eight minutes.

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