Bobcat OR Grizzly: Brawl on the Wild Side Learn More...
North American river otters can be found throughout the entire North American continent, from Canada and the United States and parts of Mexico — they can live in almost any aquatic habitat!
Their fur coloration can vary from dark brown to black with a lighter muzzle, throat, whiskers, and underside. A river otter’s thick coat helps them stay warm, even in the coldest temperatures. They have muscular, streamlined bodies with stout necks, broad heads, webbed feet, and small eyes & ears. Their tails are long, flat, and heavy, making up almost forty percent of their body!
Otters are part of the Mustelid family which also includes badgers, wolverines, minks, ferrets, and weasels. Like other mustelids, river otters are carnivores and will eat what they can catch in the water.
Ben and Mia were trapped in a fishery in Louisiana as pups (which is legal in areas where they are considered pests), by an individual who received a license to do so and brought them to ZooMontana. Due to them being born in the wild, we are unsure of their exact birthdate, but we make sure to celebrate them in February.
Ben and the other otters can look very similar at times, but if you are looking for Ben specifically, he has the darkest of “tear streaks” or patches under his eyes, a whiter throat, and his ears stick out a bit more. Since arriving at ZooMontana, Ben and Mia have become parents to multiple different litters of pups.
Mia is the only female otter we have here at the Zoo, but one way to tell her apart from the boys is that she may be a bit lighter in coloration (depending on the season) and is smaller than both males. Mia and Ben have become parents to multiple different litters, totaling up to 12 offspring since arriving at ZooMontana.
Sam is one of the offspring of Mia and Ben and was born here at ZooMontana. He was one of four males and when Mia did not look after them, they were raised by Animal Care Staff at the Zoo. Two of Sam’s other brothers went on to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, MT, but Sam still lives here at ZooMontana with his parents. If you are looking for Sam, he is the largest compared to his parents and is a bit more people-oriented.
10:00am to 2:00pm
Guests are permitted to stay on grounds one hour after closing.
*Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Inclement weather and special events may also alter operational hours.
