Zoo’s Youngest New Arrivals Are Otterly Adorable

The excitement of showing off your newborn never gets old, and the same feeling of elation will greet Buttonwood Park Zoo's youngest residents, two North American river otter pups, on Tuesday morning, June 24. They were born on March 19 and shortly after birth, the two pups weighed about a quarter of a pound each and have steadily grown to their current weight of six pounds each! Bring the family by to welcome the pups!

Dani, the pups' mother is 3 years old and arrived at the zoo in April of 2013 from Saint Louis Zoo and has lived with two 4-year-old male river otters, Duncan and Donut. Based on behavioral observations by the staff, Duncan is the proud father of the new pups! This is Dani's first litter, and she has proven to be a caring mother! As is normal for the species, the pups did not open their eyes until four weeks after birth.

North American river otters can be found in freshwater ponds, lakes and marshland habitats throughout the U.S. and Canada. The otters' diet consist mainly of aquatic organisms, such as fish, turtles, crabs and aquatic invertebrates.