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flibbitygiblets

(7,220 posts)
Tue Sep 17, 2019, 06:27 PM Sep 2019

I'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!!!!!!!!!


23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I'm going to swim with otters! I'm going to SWIM with OTTERS!!! (Original Post) flibbitygiblets Sep 2019 OP
Oh, you lucky dog! You're going to have the best time! Can you take photos?❤ Karadeniz Sep 2019 #1
Yes!! Will post photos, absolutely! flibbitygiblets Sep 2019 #3
Otters Rule! montanacowboy Sep 2019 #2
I was scuba diving in Monterey iwillalwayswonderwhy Sep 2019 #4
Ha ha ha! I knew they stored mussels in their armpit pockets femmedem Sep 2019 #6
They keep a favorite rock for breaking shells in their pocket, too. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2019 #10
They're adorable, but those teeth! Yikes. Laffy Kat Sep 2019 #14
Interesting! I was kayaking in Morro Bay CA and saw several flibbitygiblets Sep 2019 #16
We watched one spinning himself around in kelp iwillalwayswonderwhy Sep 2019 #17
I'm so jealous...yes, pictures must happen Funtatlaguy Sep 2019 #5
Well you otter have an absolutely fabulous and wonderful experience! Fla Dem Sep 2019 #7
... handmade34 Sep 2019 #8
Totally Awesome proud patriot Sep 2019 #9
With who? Harker Sep 2019 #11
www.nurturedbynature.org flibbitygiblets Sep 2019 #15
Don't let them bite your nose. Marcuse Sep 2019 #12
Nice to know you play well with otters..... lastlib Sep 2019 #13
$550 per person? I'll just look at them at Sea World JuJuYoshida Sep 2019 #18
I've got a kiddie pool and a pack of pet rats. Stryst Sep 2019 #20
I wanted to be reincarnated into an otter BigmanPigman Sep 2019 #19
I've always said that, too. lindysalsagal Sep 2019 #21
jealous micDROP Sep 2019 #22
Used to see them in Seward Alaska dem in texas Sep 2019 #23

montanacowboy

(6,052 posts)
2. Otters Rule!
Tue Sep 17, 2019, 06:40 PM
Sep 2019

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)
4. I was scuba diving in Monterey
Tue Sep 17, 2019, 06:49 PM
Sep 2019

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 didn’t care about the smell anymore.

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
6. Ha ha ha! I knew they stored mussels in their armpit pockets
Tue Sep 17, 2019, 07:09 PM
Sep 2019

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)
10. They keep a favorite rock for breaking shells in their pocket, too.
Tue Sep 17, 2019, 08:25 PM
Sep 2019

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!

flibbitygiblets

(7,220 posts)
16. Interesting! I was kayaking in Morro Bay CA and saw several
Wed Sep 18, 2019, 12:59 PM
Sep 2019

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)
17. We watched one spinning himself around in kelp
Wed Sep 18, 2019, 01:55 PM
Sep 2019

He got himself completely anchored into the kelp and then went to sleep.

proud patriot

(100,700 posts)
9. Totally Awesome
Tue Sep 17, 2019, 08:07 PM
Sep 2019

I can't wait to see the pictures and hear about the experience .

see otters have always had a special place in my heart ..

flibbitygiblets

(7,220 posts)
15. www.nurturedbynature.org
Wed Sep 18, 2019, 12:56 PM
Sep 2019

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)
12. Don't let them bite your nose.
Tue Sep 17, 2019, 08:45 PM
Sep 2019

[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).

Stryst

(714 posts)
20. I've got a kiddie pool and a pack of pet rats.
Thu Sep 19, 2019, 10:24 AM
Sep 2019

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)
19. I wanted to be reincarnated into an otter
Wed Sep 18, 2019, 06:34 PM
Sep 2019

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)
21. I've always said that, too.
Thu Sep 19, 2019, 05:31 PM
Sep 2019

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.

dem in texas

(2,672 posts)
23. Used to see them in Seward Alaska
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 10:32 PM
Sep 2019

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.

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