River otters aren’t just adorable members of the weasel family, they’re an environmental recovery success story here in the Adirondacks. Only 20 years ago, river otters were considered a threatened species in New York State. Now, their numbers have increased across the state with the help of the river otter reintroduction program and The Wild Center, based in Tupper Lake, NY. Learn about the lifestyle and personalities of these semi-aquatic mammals with an introduction to the team of rescue otters living at The Wild Center, featured in the Mountain Lake PBS web-series ADK 2030.
Ignite your students’ curiosity with this fantastic classroom resource on PBS LearningMedia!
Wildlife Caretaker Introduces the Rescued Otters of The Wild Center | Adirondack 2030
Grades 6-12
Learn about the river otter reintroduction program at The Wild Center (TWC) in Tupper Lake, New York. Considered a threatened species in New York State just 20 years ago, TWC has succeeded in increasing its numbers across the state. TWC is home to a team of rescue otters who could not survive in the wilderness. Leah Valerio, Head Curator at The Wild Center, explains why river otters are an environmental recovery success story. Learn about the lifestyle and personalities of these semi-aquatic mammals, and how staff at The Wild Center safely interact with them in captivity. This video is part of ADK 2030, a YouTube series by Mountain Lake PBS, exploring people of all walks of life who are helping preserve and protect the Adirondacks.
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