<em>Carolina Segarra, Animal Conservation &amp; Research Intern
Ashley Yates, Animal Keeper III
Palm Beach Zoo
West Palm Beach, Florida</em>

<strong>Introduction/Background: </strong>

The North American river otter (<em>Lontra canadensis</em>) is an animal that can be found in numerous zoos and aquariums around North America and is a popular exhibit with guests. In the past, this species of otter was distributed from Canada to Mexico and though they once inhabited most of the major waterways in this region, they are now almost exclusively found in Canada, Alaska, California, and along the East coast. The drastic reduction in their numbers is due to the popular sport of hunting them for their fur back in the mid 1900’s (AZA, 2009). Where found in the wild, they usually stay near a water source including freshwater and coastal marine habitats where food is abundant. This species of otter can survive in rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, and even estuaries. These otters can also tolerate a variety of environments, including both cold and warm latitudes as well as high elevations which allow them to adapt to most captive settings (Dewey &amp; Ellis, 2003). Usually solitary, males and females will socialize during mating season in late winter through early spring. If successful impregnation occurs, the mother will raise the pups in a den. Despite the fact that this species of otter is usually solitary, males have been found to form large groups of eight or more individuals in environments where resources are abundant (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, n.d.). These large groups have been placed and managed successfully in zoos and aquariums and show the species’ adaptability (AZA, 2009). This study will focus on two separated pairs of otters (1.3) at the Palm Beach Zoo and the effect certain environmental factors have on their interaction with enrichment items and impact on stereotypical behaviors. The otters were categorized as a mating pair (Sully and Rudder) and a female sibling pair (Thelma and Louise). Because otters are semi-aquatic, they vary the time they spend on land and in water and therefore this study will compare the same enrichment items in a mostly aquatic habitat versus a mostly terrestrial habitat to see how each area affects the use of each enrichment item. The goals of this study are to correlate specific factors that will help identify which type of enrichment is most effective and the areas they will be better used in to help decrease abnormal behaviors which could then lead to better welfare for these animals.<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2717" title="71" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/71.jpg" alt="71" width="444" height="364" />

<strong>Materials and Methods:</strong>

The materials used in this study were a time source (one-minute stop watch, cell-phone or wrist watch) and the observational sheet for recording data.  The enrichment methods that were studied were provided by the keeper, Ashley Yates, who also had the decision of choosing how complex each enrichment would be. A schedule was developed so the otters would get an enrichment method they’ve previously received (labeled “old”) as the control, one day and then an enrichment method that they’d never received, (labeled “new”) the day following each study session for comparison. Each session was over a span of two weeks where the otters received the same old enrichment method in their respective habitat one day, the new enrichment method in that same habitat the next day, and then the following week be given the old enrichment in the opposite habitat and new enrichment in that same habitat the day after. Every two weeks the session was repeated with the next set of enrichments scheduled. During each of the study days, the behaviors were observed in the morning (8:00 AM - 11:30 AM), mid-day (11:31 AM – 1:30 PM) and afternoon (1:31 PM – 4:00 PM) for each pair of otters in their respective habitats. This study took eight weeks, during which a total of four enrichment setups were studied and each otter was observed a total of 720 times…

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