New Arrival: Mystie, North American River Otter

You’ll be otterly enchanted by this new zoo resident! One-year-old North American river otter Mystie has arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo and is being introduced to 7-year-old Tucker. Mystie’s transfer from another Association of Zoos and Aquariums Zoo was recommended by the North American River Otter Species Survival Plan®.

North American river otters are semiaquatic mammals in the same family as weasels and badgers, with a length of around 5 feet and a weight up to 30 pounds. They live in areas with permanent water, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes, and coastal waters. In fact, they are a keystone species, as their presence in waterways is a sign that an area has adequate water quality.

They’re well adapted for life in the water, thanks to streamlined bodies with short legs and webbed feet, plus a waterproof coat. They can close their ears and nostrils and have a third eyelid that allows them to see underwater. These otters can also hold their breath for up to eight minutes and travel through the water at 8 mph.

Unlike some species, these otters have variable social structures. They may reside in riverside burrows with families, spend time in single-sex groups, or even stay solitary. They were once rare in Illinois, but more than 30,000 live in the state today. In fact, the zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute caught some on camera in a suburb of Chicago in 2024!

Much of Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo is temporarily closed to allow the wild colony of black-crowned night herons to nest in peace. However, Mystie and Tucker can still be seen both indoors and out. Come meet her soon!

And check out this video: