North American river otters are popping up in places they haven't been seen in decades and nobody really knows why. As we search for answers we discover a trail of fish heads, poop splats, and cuddle parties.
Guests:
- Katrina Lohan, head of the Coastal Disease Ecology Laboratory at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
- Alejandra Morales Picard, psychologist at Montgomery College
- Rebecca Sturniolo, assistant curator of the America Trail at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
- Patty Storms & Morty Bachar, otter neighbors
Smithsonian Links:
- Learn more facts about river otter’s habits and habitats—and watch video of the zoo’s otter residents swimming and exploring—from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
- You can also peek in on a trio of river otters socializing at a latrine with nighttime footage from the docks at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
- Explore the social and scientific benefits of river otter poop parties in a Smithsonian magazine article by Katrina Lohan and Karen McDonald at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
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