Feb 20, 2024 - Culture

You can help name Maymont's new otter

Karri Peifer

A very cute looking otter, which like a big fat brown rat, but with a cute face — We shall call her Denise until told otherwise. Image: Courtesy of Maymont

Maymont has a new otter, and Richmond is invited to help name her.

What's happening: This 3-year-old cutie arrived at Maymont just after Thanksgiving and has been acclimating to her new habitat behind the scenes — and to Louis, Maymont's other otter who arrived there as a 2-year-old in 2017.

Both otters came to Maymont by way of Louisiana, after wildlife authorities there declared them "nuisance predators for local crawfish harvesters."

Why it matters: Richmond might get salty about all the NoVa and influencer transplants, but we will welcome with open arms all the nation's pesky, annoying, bothersome creatures.

Send them all! Our borders are open!

Details: Through Feb. 25, locals can suggest a name by making a minimum $25 donation through Maymont's Adopt an Animal.

The public will get to vote on the top three suggestions from March 1-8.
And the new otter, who for now we will call Denise inspired by Dennis the Menace to pay homage to her "nuisance" self, will be on display with her new name beginning March 15 at The Robins Nature Center.

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You can help name Maymont's new otter

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