![]() The two brothers had eyes only for each other as they channeled their boundless energy into a high-speed chase. But it seemed Poseidon and Neptune kept their distance less out of shyness and more due to a complete indifference toward their afternoon company. There was also the option of sitting on the steps, which we came to understand was a prime spot for maximum otter interaction.Ī post shared by Barn Hill Preserve of Delaware our swimming companions first entered the water, they weren’t one bit interested in mingling.īarn Hill Preserve's pool is spacious enough that the maximum capacity of eight guests (nine, counting the guide) doesn't inhibit anyone's need for personal space, otters included. At 5 feet 4 inches, I was submerged only to my chest, and it was clear that the otters would be doing all of the swimming while the human participants simply shuffled around them. Most won't even need to know how to doggy paddle. Those wishing to swim with otters at either of Barn Hill Preserve's two locations can do so without the agility of a semi-aquatic mammal. This is my new go-to fun fact about otters to contribute to a hypothetical listicle, made all the more interesting to me after watching Poseidon and Neptune flit around the perimeter of the pool with remarkable ease. ![]() Instead, the pup is subjected to repeated dunking until the mother's form of (very) tough love prompts the realization that, hey, maybe this wet stuff isn't so bad. In fact, staying above the surface isn’t the goal. To get their offspring acclimated to water, mothers drag reluctant pups straight into the deep end without so much as a kickboard to keep them afloat. But mostly, a search for “swimming with otters” on Google Maps results in a bunch of human-exclusive swimming schools with names like “Little Otter Swim Academy” and “Floating Otters Swim School.”įunnily enough, baby otters aren’t all that fond of swimming and actually need lessons of their own. ![]() Similar programs can be found at Nurtured by Nature in California, Blue Hill Ranch in Texas, and the North Georgia Wildlife and Safari Park. A shell on the deck provided a momentary distraction, but it was a frenzied scamper into the water soon after the leashes (repurposed cat harnesses, the guide explained) had been cast aside.īarn Hill Preserve, with locations in Delaware and Louisiana, is one of only a few places offering Asian small-clawed otter swim encounters. With names well-suited to their aquatic inclination, Poseidon and Neptune barely stopped squirming around long enough for the guide to release them from their tethers. She was, of course, referring to the otters, two wiggly leashed creatures whose palpable excitement at the sight of the pool suggested they hardly needed an escort to their destination. After just enough time had passed for our anticipation to build to its peak without descending into boredom, our guide returned with an apology. The wooden fence enclosing the pool area seemed to require our utmost concentration, along with any noises we could sense beyond its confines. Together, we probably had enough collective knowledge of otters to write a list of fun facts geared toward a young audience (my dad’s contribution would be the endearing tidbit that otters hold hands to keep from drifting apart, although if the guide had overheard, she may have informed him that this behavior is specific to sea otters).īut even if there had been an expert among us, the mood wasn’t particularly conversational. ![]() No one in the pool had a confident answer to any of the inquiries that came up in the absence of our guide. “Do you think an otter would hold my hand while floating on its back?” he asked aloud. NEW YORK (TND) - What, exactly, does an otter feel like? The thought passed through my mind as I stood in a heated pool with four others on a Wednesday afternoon in mid-September.Īlso: what sounds do otters make? Next to me, my dad had questions of his own. ![]()
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