This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy.
It might come as an otter shock to some— part of the newly renovated North America trek region at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium will temporarily close for repair just five months after reopening.
The reason: otter chaos. The culprits: three river otters.
The zoo announced Oct. 8 that a large section of sealant in a deep pool used by three North American river otter brothers—Wilford, River, and Mayhem—needs repair and reinforcement.
How did the otters cause damage?
The 8-foot-deep pool that serves as the otter’s playland has a 3-inch-wide strip of sealant that runs in a U-shape across the acrylic viewing panel. Vice President of Planning, Construction and Facilities, Tyler Menke, said the otters had been picking at the section with their claws.
Repairs are expected to cost about $10,000, Menke said, though the additional cost of installing reinforcements to prevent future damage hasn’t been determined.
Menke said designers had assumed the otters wouldn’t bother that part of the pool during the planning phase because they’d shown no interest in it.
“There’s a lot of thought that goes into the upfront design, and there’s always a risk-management model,” Menke said. “But you could think of every possible way to prevent them from getting into things, and they’ll still find a way. They definitely keep our job interesting.”
How long will repairs take?
The caulking, which is the material used to seal joints or fill small gaps to prevent leaks, will be removed entirely and replaced. The monthlong process will involve draining the pool, allowing it to dry, installing new caulking and adding protective material that will not degrade under water to keep the curious trio from reaching it again.
The two-year-old otters, who arrived at the Columbus Zoo in May from the Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut, will be temporarily relocated to their previous habitat near the cougar exhibit starting Oct. 13.
Nikki Smith, a curator for the North America Trek region, said the brothers’ behavior is typical for their age.
“They’re three adolescent males,” Smith said. “They’re not trying to wreak havoc. They are just naturally curious animals. We anticipated them doing something we just weren’t sure what. This has never happened to us with otters before.”
The zoo confirmed that none of the otters ingested any sealant material.
The future for the North America Trek region
The $40 million North America Trek exhibit opened on June 20 after years of development that began in 2021. The project spans about eight acres and represents the first phase of a larger renovation.
A second phase, still in design, is expected to add another six acres, though no timeline has been announced.
Menke said that while repairs so soon after opening are disappointing, the situation offers valuable lessons.
“Yes, this is not a great outcome, but it helps us get better in our design.”
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Otter chaos closes part of Columbus Zoo & Aquarium’s new North America Trek for repairs
Reporting by Amani Bayo, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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