I hope the Lehigh Valley Zoo has another river otter to keep this little girl otter company!

From the Lehigh Valley Zoo: After months of renovation, the River Otter exhibit has reopened,
and this female river otter is only too happy to explore her home!

Click Here To Visit The Lehigh Valley Zoo website

Amy just wrote in to share these pictures taken at the Bronx Zoo.  Thanks Amy!

Amy writes: My friend Linda and I spent the day on Sunday at the Bronx Zoo. The romp of small clawed otters were delightful and Linda took these great shots. If you'd like to post one, she's willing. I love how touchy-feely they are with each other. I think they were expecting their feeding.

Click here to visit the official Bronx Zoo website

Here's a great video of Sea Otters being fed at Sea World.

Click here to visit the official Sea World website

The Vancouver Aquarium recently posted a Nyac tribute video on YouTube.

From The Vancouver Aquarium: Nyac one of the two famous otter-holding-hands YouTube stars and long-time resident of the Vancouver Aquarium died on September 23, 2008. She was one of the last surviving sea otters from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Nyac came to the Vancouver Aquarium in 1989 as one of the few young survivors of the oil spill. She not only survived the traumatic event, but she overcame incredible odds and became the only known survivor to have successfully had a pup. On November 9, 1993, Nyac gave birth to a healthy female pup, Kipnuk. This event was considered miraculous due to the internal damage she had sustained. During her 20 years of life, she won the hearts of members, visitors, volunteers and staff at the Vancouver Aquarium. She inspired many people as they learned about sea otters and the issues that face them in our waters today. She was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia a few days before her death. This cancer has not been previously reported in sea otters, but it is associated with contact with petroleum in other species. So even in death, Nyac will continue to provide vital information on the long-term effects of oil exposure.

Click here to visit the official Vancouver Aquarium website

Chandra just sent me this great picture taken at "breakfast with the otters".  I wish I could have breakfast with some otters!

Chandra writes: My nephew Sam loves river otters, so for his 5th birthday party, we had “breakfast with the otters”, an event at a local non-profit zoo [Ecomuseum in Canada].
We got the chance to prepare and feed the 2 otters, Happy and Iamvik. I took some great pictures, and I thought I would share this one with you, a fellow otter lover!

Click here to visit the Ecomuseum website

Two otter cubs, Ceud and Rowan were rescued after Rowan was hit by a car and partially paralyzed.  They were cared for by the International Otter Survival Fund until Rowan recovered enough to be released.  It has to be a rewarding job when you can help an injured otter and then release it back into the wild! 

From the IOSF: "[Rowan] was partially paralysed but with the great care of the staff he recovered enough to be moved to Skye and he has since grown into a big strong otter.
"When the two cubs were first introduced to each other there was a lot of yelling from Ceud, who obviously objected to her new pen-mate, although she did not actually touch him.
"Eventually she accepted him and they soon began to curl up to sleep together. Initially Rowan was smaller but it was him who pinched the fish from Ceud."

Click here to read more at the BBC News

I'm amazed at how many news sources remembered our beloved sea otter Nyac.  Here's a list of articles that were forwarded to me:

• The Province, Canada
• Vancouver Sun
• Calgary Herald
• Ottowa Citizen
• CTV
• Metro
• Canadian Press
• And of course our friends at CuteOverload

We'll miss you Nyac - Photo credit - Metro News

In sad news, one of the otters in this popular video, Nyac just passed away.  Nyac was one of the last survivors of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and along with her friend, Milo became the most famous otters ever.  Thanks to Cyndi & Kris for sending me this story.

From The Vancouver Aquarium: Until Tuesday, September 23, the Vancouver Aquarium was home to four sea otters. Sadly, in the early hours of September 23rd, 20 year old Nyac - one of the last remaining survivors of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill - passed away after an earlier diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
The passing of Nyac has placed a profound and lasting sadness upon those who cared for her during her time here at the Vancouver Aquarium. The fact that her passing occurred during Sea Otter Awareness Week further amplifies the importance of her long life and how it will continue to provide education on her species and its environment. Her legacy shows us the vital importance of continued conservation work to help protect the future of this species.
The three remaining sea otters include Tanu (a 4 year old female) and Elfin (a 7 year old male), both orphaned as young pups off the coast of Alaska and hand raised here at the Aquarium. Also, Milo (a 9 year old male) is here on loan from the Lisbon Oceanarium.

Feel like sharing your love for otters with your friends and family? Just hop over to the Discovery channel's website and you can send adorable otter e-cards to everyone for free!

Click here to create and send your own otter e-card

Halloween is coming up soon so if you want to dress your kid up like an otter, you'd better order soon.  $49.99 plus $4.99 shipping is all it takes to have this cute Animal Planet Collector's Edition Sea Otter Toddler Costume delivered to your door!

Click here to read more details at BuyCostumes.com

SF Weekly is one of the many websites honoring the cutest animal in the world!

Click here to read more at the SF Weekly

Here's some video of one of my dream jobs, training otters!  I'll have to add the Georgia Aquarium to my growing list of places to visit.  If you live around the Georgia Aquarium, be sure to visit them this week to celebrate Sea Otter Awareness week.

Click here to visit the official Georgia Aquarium website

I wish I lived in Monterey because there are otters everywhere!  How awesome would it be to go to the beach and see otters whenever you wanted?  Thanks to Charlene for this great picture!

Charlene writes: Visited Monterey over the weekend, and went along the pier behind Cannery Row that overlooks the bay. There was a pair of otters napping, one that appeared to be much smaller than the other (possibly mother and her baby). Every so often, they would wake up, groom themselves, and roll over in the kelp a couple more times.

Click here to visit Charlene's Flickr Page

I think I've seen more otter pictures than just about anyone but this is the first time I've seen an otter cry.  OK, the otter isn't really crying but it sure looks like it.  Kawausosu sent these pictures taken at Zoorasia in Yokohama, Japan.

Click here to visit the official Zoorasia website

If you live around Georgia, be sure to visit Gracie and Oz during Sea Otter Week from September 21-27.  Of course if you go and visit, please e-mail pictures for all of us to see!

Here are some of the events going on:

• Arts & Crafts – Create your own sea otter mask!
• Animal Interpreters – Learn about our sea otters.
• Conservation Carts – Touch sea otter pelts and examine replica otter skulls.
• Raffles – Win a plush sea otter! Raffles will be held each day at 1 p.m.
• Plus biologist sessions, enrichment activities,        storytelling, videos and mo

Click here to visit the official Georgia Aquarium website