Lincoln Park Zoo Welcomes a New Female North American River Otter

Chicago (May 22, 2026) – There’s a new resident waiting just around the riverbend at Lincoln Park Zoo. North American river otter Mystie can now be seen enjoying her new habitat at Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo.

At 1 year old, Mystie is still considered an adolescent river otter; she’ll reach full maturity at around 2 years old. Her transfer to Lincoln Park Zoo was recommended by the North American River Otter Species Survival Plan®. This is a collaborative population management effort among institutions within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Mystie joins Tucker, the 7-year-old North American river otter currently living at the zoo. The two will be companion animals and there are no current plans for a breeding recommendation.

“North American river otters are full of energy, and Mystie is no exception. This is a playful species, and we’ve already seen her utilizing all the landscape and water features at Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo,” said Curator Dan Boehm. “We’re excited to see how Mystie finds new ways to have fun in her habitat and exhibit play behaviors with Tucker as they continue to get to know each other.”

North American river otters are semiaquatic animals that live in areas with permanent water sources, such as rivers, creeks, and streams. When zoo guests visit Tucker, they can catch him swimming or scampering around on land. River otters have varied social structures; some live alone, while others live in families or groups of adult males.

North American river otters are considered a keystone species, meaning that they have a sizable impact on their native ecosystem. As a result, any substantial decline in their population can have serious negative impacts on the entire system. A healthy North American river otter population in the wild signals that the area has adequate water quality that can support life.

The North American river otter population in Illinois is a true wildlife recovery success story. By the end of the 1980s, habitat loss due to human development, poor water quality, and overhunting landed river otters on the state’s endangered species list. Over the following three decades, efforts to improve waterway quality and protect habitats throughout Illinois, combined with a well-executed reintroduction plan, has helped the North American river otter population come back strong with an estimated 15,000 individuals living in all 102 counties in Illinois. For the past decade, North American river otters have even made themselves at home on the Chicago River; last year, they were even caught on camera by Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute for the first time!

About Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo inspires communities to create environments where wildlife will thrive in our urbanizing world. The zoo is a leader in local and global conservation, animal care and welfare, learning, and science. A historic Chicago landmark founded in 1868, the not-for-profit Lincoln Park Zoo is a privately-managed, member-supported organization and is free and open 365 days a year. Visit us at lpzoo.org.

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