Teaching a young river otter to swim is a lot like teaching a child. Brandon, an orphaned otter who was found in a backyard in the eastern Hillsborough County community of the same name, received his first swimming lesson Thursday at The Florida Aquarium. ...more

May 29, 2009

I spent a few days recently reacquainting myself with the sensation of being unemployed. I didn't much like it. ...more

March 27, 2009

"Rico" didn't have quite enough of a ring to it, so it wound up in second place. ...more

March 12, 2009

"Rico" didn't have quite enough of a ring to it, so it wound up in second place. ...more

March 11, 2009

A young male otter scampered across the floor of its cage Wednesday afternoon at The Florida Aquarium, squeaking at visitors. The approximately 3-month-old pup was found orphaned in Brandon on Tuesday and was taken to an emergency animal clinic, but the clinic had never cared for an otter before, so its staff called the aquarium. ...more

March 5, 2009

The otter population of the Florida Aquarium increased Tuesday when workers received an orphaned male river otter believed to be 3 months old. ...more

March 4, 2009

The otter population of the Florida Aquarium increased Tuesday when workers received an orphaned river otter believed to be three months old. ...more

March 4, 2009

More than two miles above the flat east Pasco landscape, a twin-turbo Otter airplane disgorges two dozen spores. At least that's what they look like from the ground. ...more

December 30, 2008

More than two miles over the flat east Pasco landscape, a twin-turbo Otter airplane disgorges two dozen spores. At least that's what they look like from the ground. They fall separately, then, a mile from the ground, pop their nylon blooms that open into colorful petals drifting safely, hopefully, to the ground. It's Christmas Boogie time at Zephyrhills Skydive City, and as usual, the celebration of warm weather, gravity and clean air to fill parachutes is in full swing, with people from around the world coming to jump out of airplanes. ...more

December 29, 2008

along with Jeff Eilertsen of Lakeland, who rescued him - watched as the otter trotted toward the Hillsborough River at Trout Creek Park and disappeared with a splash. The Tampa aquarium has treated 21 North American river otters, but none ever grew healthy enough to release. ...more

December 11, 2008