The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsI'm going to swim with otters! I'm going to SWIM with OTTERS!!!
OMG. I've been trying to get tickets for a couple of years, and now it's finally happening on the day after Thanksgiving!
check out nurturedbynature.org -- It's a non-profit rescue/education/conservation group near San Diego, and they do amazing things (like working with Make-A-Wish kids). There's very limited public encounters to help defray costs.
Mr. Giblets is going to be the over the MOON--he's the only person I know who loves otters more than me.
Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
Karadeniz
(22,270 posts)flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)montanacowboy
(6,052 posts)OMG that's a wonderful opportunity.
THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD MORE HEARTWARMING THAN WATCHING 2 OTTERS ON THEIR BACKS, HOLDING HANDS JUST FLOATING ON THE WATER
I can hardly stand it.
iwillalwayswonderwhy
(2,598 posts)When I came up, I was waiting for the rest of the group when I suddenly smelled this awful, rotten shellfish stench. I turned around, and there was a sea otter floating by, on his back. I watched, amazed, and didnt care about the smell anymore.
femmedem
(8,187 posts)but I never thought about how they must smell. But I wouldn't care about the smell either! Just look at this otter's joy.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,271 posts)They are one of the few mammals who use tools. They also have big teeth and tend to be bitey, so don't try to pet them!
Laffy Kat
(16,354 posts)Do they bite humans?
flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)No smell that I noticed though. An elderly sea otter (you can tell by the whiteness of the fur) was napping on his back and we kept "accidentally" floating over with our kayak to get a peek. (We could tell when we'd gotten too close because he'd give us the stink-eye and use a single flipper to move a few feet further away before returning to his nap!)
iwillalwayswonderwhy
(2,598 posts)He got himself completely anchored into the kelp and then went to sleep.
Funtatlaguy
(10,856 posts)Fla Dem
(23,347 posts)handmade34
(22,755 posts)otters
proud patriot
(100,700 posts)I can't wait to see the pictures and hear about the experience .
see otters have always had a special place in my heart ..
Harker
(13,874 posts)flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)They are typically booked up years in advance. I just saw a single ticket cancellation for October 4; it's about 45 minutes northeast of San Diego.
Marcuse
(7,392 posts)[link:https://outfog.com/2014/11/19/dark-side-california-sea-otters/|
[/divDid you know that you could catch serious diseases from sea otters? If you handle an otter or breathe the air close to a dead otter, you could catch bartonella (cat scratch disease), toxoplasmosis, brucellosis and coccidioidomycosis (valley fever). If you discover a sick or dead sea otter, stay away and contact the professionals at the Marine Mammal Center (415-289-7325), the Monterey Bay Aquarium (831-648-4840) or the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (831-212-7010).
lastlib
(22,980 posts)JuJuYoshida
(2,214 posts)Stryst
(714 posts)Also turns out my living room has neither rules about drinking nor pants.
But that's just sour grapes. I'm totally a little jelly.
BigmanPigman
(51,430 posts)until a few years ago (due to Climate Change). I always thought they had the best life...floating and playing in the water, eating seafood, having friends and family around, etc. I live in San Diego and never heard about this place. Lucky you!
lindysalsagal
(20,440 posts)Gotta be awesome! But I think I'dl iike to be in an aquarium, so I wouldn't have to worry about pollution or human/alligator predators.
micDROP
(75 posts)dem in texas
(2,672 posts)We lived in Anchorage in the 1970's and would go down to Seward to fish. The sea otters were numerous in the harbor, floating on their backs, wrapped in seaweed and cracking shells to get at the meat. They didn't seem to e disturbed by the comings and goings of the people on the dock.