My local zoo, the Capron Park Zoo, has had north american river otters climb a tree on numerous occasions. I was wondering if anyone has seen this at any other facilities or in the wild. It is a behavior that hasn't really been documented outside of our facility, yet it has happened on enough occasions that I seriously question if it truly is the only place this has happened.
This website I found about red panda mixed-species exhibits says that mixing red pandas with otters is challenging because they sometimes climb trees to harass the pandas. en/Mixed exhibit Procyonidae Ailuridae
In the Bristol Zoo otter enclosure a willow tree had to have a barrier on the trunk to keep them from climbing up (and out). I believe there are reports of wild otters in Britain using willow trees as denning sites, at least for resting if not raising young
Honestly, I am 100% not surprised the Buttonwood otters climb their tree. On my last visit, I noticed the tree and thought that the otters at Capron would so definitely climb it. Not surprised the Buttonwood otters have figured it out.
I have seen Asian small-clawed otters climbing on logs and trunks used as structural, decorative and sheltering elements in their exhibits, as well as on rocks. So I am not at all surprised that they would attempt to climb a tree.
Many years ago in Zurich zoo a female Lutra lutra barang climbed a tree near the fence of the otter enclosure and escaped. She killed several waterfowl, including a breeding pair of steamer ducks. When she was recaptured and returned to her enclosure she immediately went to the same tree again.
Really, I am not at all surprised the number of zoos with tree climbing otters. What we have to wonder really is why. Could it be- Extra time in captivity (not having to hunt) has led to more curiosity among otters? A skill from the wild that just hasn't been largely recorded? An alternate location for a den? Something else?
I know this is a late reply but I visited the zoo for the first time recently and noticed it to. If you look in the Capron Park Zoo media I posted a picture of it.
From Crandall, 1964: "Since otters are usually considered to be unable to climb trees, we once were greatly surprised to find that a female of the Florida race (L. canadensis vaga) had developed the habit of ascending to a height of 6 feet or more in a small cherry tree... She accomplished this by hugging the trunk with her forelegs and inching herself upwward. This she did easily enough, but when she attempted to descend by reversing the process, she was awkward and uncertain."
In a French zoo, I saw a small-clawed otter chasing a red panda up its climbing platform and then eating food from its dish.
