Latest news with #NorthAmericanRiverOtterSpeciesSurvivalPlan
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Wisconsin zoo: Escaped otter 'made the decision' to be wild
June 5 (UPI) -- A Wisconsin zoo announced it has called off the search for an otter on the loose since March, explaining the animal "has made the decision to be a wild otter." The New Zoo & Adventure Park in Green Bay previously revealed two otters, Louie and Ophelia, escaped from their enclosure during a snowstorm March 20. Ophelia was recaptured and returned to the zoo April 2, but Louie has proved to be more elusive. "At no point during his time away has Louie been spotted (and reported to us) repeatedly in the same yard or waterway, which is what would have been required to set traps to bring him home," the zoo said on social media. "We did, however, receive enough reports of sightings in similar areas that lead us to believe that he is healthy and surviving well." The zoo said Louie was born in the wild and is believed to have all of the skills and instincts he would need to survive on his own. "We expect that he's doing just fine out there," the post said. The zoo said it is working with the North American River Otter Species Survival Plan to try to find a new mate for Ophelia.
UPI
5 days ago
- General
- UPI
Wisconsin zoo: Escaped otter 'made the decision' to be wild
June 5 (UPI) -- A Wisconsin zoo announced it has called off the search for an otter on the loose since March, explaining the animal "has made the decision to be a wild otter." The New Zoo & Adventure Park in Green Bay previously revealed two otters, Louie and Ophelia, escaped from their enclosure during a snowstorm March 20. Ophelia was recaptured and returned to the zoo April 2, but Louie has proved to be more elusive. "At no point during his time away has Louie been spotted (and reported to us) repeatedly in the same yard or waterway, which is what would have been required to set traps to bring him home," the zoo said on social media. "We did, however, receive enough reports of sightings in similar areas that lead us to believe that he is healthy and surviving well." The zoo said Louie was born in the wild and is believed to have all of the skills and instincts he would need to survive on his own. "We expect that he's doing just fine out there," the post said. The zoo said it is working with the North American River Otter Species Survival Plan to try to find a new mate for Ophelia.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘He has made the decision to be wild': NEW Zoo & Adventure Park provides update on missing otter Louie
SUAMICO, Wis. (WFRV) – After over two months of searching and awaiting the return of runaway Louie, the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park says it has ended efforts to locate the missing otter. Louie and Ophelia went missing after escaping their habitats on Thursday, March 20, but on March 28, the . Wisconsin Department of Transportation warning residents of fake DMV link scams Unfortunately, the search for Louie has been unsuccessful, and as of May 30, the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park said that they will no longer continue search efforts for the missing otter. 'Due to the length of time that Louie has been missing, we believe he has made the decision to be a wild otter,' the post said. 'We accept this, although we would, of course, welcome him home if he decides to return.' In the nearly 2.5 months since Louie's adventure away, he has not been spotted in the same yard or area of search efforts. Had he been spotted, traps would've been set to bring him home. However, the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park mentioned that enough reports of sightings in similar areas lead staff to believe Louie will be just fine to survive as a wild otter. Door County Sheriff's Deputy rescues fawn born after mother deer hit by a car Instead, the staff is working with the North American River Otter Species Survival Plan to find another male otter to mate with Ophelia. Additional details will be provided as they become available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
