Maymont launches livestream for resident otters

State of play: Maymont launched the cam this month, a revival of sorts for the park, which had one running for years — until raccoons got into the wiring, Maymont spokesperson Melissa Abernathy tells Axios.

• They brought it back thanks to local IT firm Bastionpoint Technology, whose technician was working on Maymont's systems near the otters "and noticed how chatty Nola was," she says.
• "He felt like she had main character energy!"
• So Bastionpoint set it up and now maintains the cam as a gift for Maymont.

Zoom in: The otter cam runs 24/7, but the best time to catch them out and about is between 10am and 5pm, when they're outside, Abernathy says.

What they're saying: "They're not always out. But when they are, they're adorable," Abernathy tells Axios.

Fun fact: Louis is the elder of Maymont's two otters, and she's been there since 2017. "Main character" Nola arrived in 2023.

• Both came from Louisiana, after wildlife authorities there declared them "nuisance predators for local crawfish harvesters."

What's next: There are no plans for more creature cams at the moment, Abernathy says.

• But Maymont will definitely be keeping an eye on the raccoons.

If you prefer to view the otters in person, check them out at The Robins Nature Center every Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm.