Ecomuseum Zoo welcomes river otters Taj and Missi

A couple of playful mammals with some unique skills have joined the Ecomuseum Zoo family.

Taj and Missi – two river otters – are the newest members of the outdoor zoo in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.

Taj, a male otter, is the son of an otter that previously lived at the Ecomuseum Zoo until 2019. The zoo describes Taj as “social by nature and used to company.”

Missi is a nine-year-old female otter.

“We are confident that these residents will arouse the curiosity for visitors and help us to raise awareness of the need to protect biodiversity,” the Ecomuseum wrote in an Instagram post.

Taj and Missi are living in the newly renovated and improved otter space at the zoo. It was renovated following the death of Pika the otter in August.

The zoo says the otters will need a “few weeks” to get used to their new living space and build a bond with the animal care and veterinary teams.

“Despite the great anticipation expressed by visitors and friends of the zoo, it will be some time before the otters integrate the educational activities, such as Breakfast with the Otters, in which they delight everyone,” the Ecomuseum Zoo wrote.

“However, they are already fully active and can be observed by visitors! Our education team and naturalist guides will be on hand to answer any questions the curious may have, especially during the Holiday Season when the zoo will be offering a number of special activities.”

River otters are members of the weasel family and can reach up to 20 pounds – as heavy as a small dog – and up to 1.2 metres long.

They have powerful tails, short webbed feet, and can hold their breaths up to seven minutes under water.

They primarily eat fish; they also eat mollusks, frogs, aquatic insects and turtles.

They love to play, slide, swim and even burrow in the snow.