High Desert Museum’s baby otter is growing up
Baby’s grown up. The baby otter the High Desert Museum received in May from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is now a thriving 26-week-old youngster who’s joined Brook and Rogue, the Bend museum’s two other otters, in the Autzen Otter Exhibit .
But, just don’t call him ‘Baby.’ The Museum auctioned off his naming rights during the High Desert Rendezvous in August, and the winners decided to name him ‘Pitch.’
“Our wildlife staff has done an incredible job of raising Pitch through bottle feedings and some sleepless nights,” said the Museum’s Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “They’ve spent a considerable amount of time with Pitch, even helping him learn how to swim, a skill he would have learned from a parent in the wild.”
A hiker found the otter pup along the Metolius River in May and took it to a local wildlife rehabilitator. ODFW District Wildlife Biologist Corey Heath and ODFW wildlife veterinarians decided the best outcome for the pup would be to place the animal permanently with the High Desert Museum. Now after 15 weeks, Pitch spends most of his day on exhibit swimming and playing with the two other otters.
The Autzen Otter Exhibit was designed to have three otters. During the recent renovation of “Otter Space,” many upgrades including new pumps and filters, glass-viewing walls, interior exhibits, a beautiful mural and an otter slide have greatly enhanced the living space for the otters as well as viewing opportunities for visitors.
“We’d like to remind folks that finding a young animal alone in the wild doesn’t necessarily mean that it has been abandoned,” said the Museum’s Curator of Wildlife Jon Nelson.
When an adult goes to feed or rest, most times it will leave its young in a secluded spot, then return to check on the young or protect them from predators. If hikers find a young or injured animal, they should contact a local ODFW office or local wildlife rehabilitator. A list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the ODFW (www.dfw.state.or.us) or High Desert Museum website ( highdesertmuseum.org/injured-wildlife/ ).
For more information about Pitch or the Autzen Otter E xhibit, contact the museum at 541-382-4754 ext. 241 or visit the website at highdesertmuseum.org/autzen-otter-exhibit .
