3. Recycling gets a new twist with SOFT
The idea of recycling is certainly not new, but SOFT believes that by valuing the idea of keeping
our environment clean on land is an excellent way to keep our oceans clean. To that end, SOFT
participates in an in-depth recycling program, especially geared toward difficult-to-recycle items
like energy bar wrappers, cereal bags, plastic cosmetic and makeup items, toothbrushes, tooth-
paste tubes & dental floss containers, Brita water filtration systems and plastic scotch tape rolls.
Thanks to all who participate in the program! In 2014, we recycled:
6,000 Beauty care & cosmetic products
100 Entenmann’s Little Bites wrappers
500 cereal bags & cereal box liners
575 toothbrushes, toothpaste packaging, dental floss, deodorant & mouthwash bottles
1574 Energy Bar wrappers
80 Capri Sun & Honest Kids pouches
115 Baby food & GoGo Squeeze pouches
200 cheese packaging wrappers
10 Brita water filters
215 lbs. of aluminum & 375 lbs. of steel
Once collected, these items are shipped in bulk - to minimize the environmental impact – to
Terracycle, an upcycling company that believes in eliminating trash completely.
The funding dollars SOFT receives from recycling these products are funneled directly into our
sea otter granting fund.
SOFT values
community clean-
up days!
In early June, we participated in
World Environment & World
Ocean’s Day. Believing in a pris-
tine environment, we ventured out
frequently throughout 2014 to
clean-up country roads, open
fields and even parking lots of
trash and recyclables, instilling the
idea in others that we can make a
difference one person, one day at
a time.
4. When most people think of aquariums with sea otters, they tend
to assume the facility will be on a coast or near a large body of
inland water. One very obvious exception, however, is the
Minnesota Zoo. The good folks there will readily admit that
they’re about 1,500 miles from the nearest ocean, but that
they’re also home to three of the coolest sea otters around –
Rocky, Capers & Jasper.
When SOFT visited Minnesota Zoo, located in Apple Valley (a
southeast suburb in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area),
we were excited to learn that the facility is home to not only sea
otters, but also two other species of otter: North American river
and Asian small-clawed otters. Needless to say, spending an
entire day at Minnesota Zoo was time well spent!
When we swung over to the sea otter exhibit, we were
pleasantly surprised to note the basis for the overall area:
Russia’s Grizzly Coast. Most sea otter exhibits we’ve seen focus
on the North American coast and its inhabitants. The Minnesota
Zoo approach, however, takes on the western side of the Pacific
Ocean. Wild boar, Amur leopards, Brown (Grizzly) bears and
other inhabitants of eastern Russia join the sea otter in exhibits
that play on the lush dense forests and craggy coasts of that
region. As mentioned, it is a different and well-done exploration
of the not often discussed Russian sea otter habitat.
We arrived during feeding time for Rocky, Capers and Jasper,
which is always a fun and interactive time for visitors. The zoo
has developed a list of the “Top 10 Reasons Sea Otters Are So
Amazing” detailing a myriad of sea otter characteristics
including their role as keystone species, their ability to use tools
and their need to eat 25-30% of
their body weight per day. For
Rocky, Capers & Jasper, who
weigh approximately 70 pounds,
this translates to their needing to
eat 15-18 pounds of food per day.
While we awaited our contact,
trainer Jenny Beem, we noticed
the attention to detail in the
exhibit, both inside and out. The
exterior areas are decorated to
look like a Russian expedition and
Rocky, Capers & Jasper make great
crowd pleasers at Minnesota Zoo
North American
river otters &
Asian Small-
clawed otters call
Minnesota Zoo
home too!
The North American river otter
exhibit, part of the Medtronic
Minnesota Trail, had a deep
pool and shallow stream sup-
ported by the exhibits recirculat-
ing water system. Rocks, tree
limbs and other naturalistic fea-
tures (some real, some simulat-
ed) litter the exhibit, providing
lots of opportunity for enrich-
ment for Bobby & Nena, the
male and female North Ameri-
can river otters there.
The Asian small-clawed otters
have their own exhibit and pool
area within the Tropics Trail,
which is housed within an envi-
ronmentally-controlled building
with many other sub-exhibits
that mesh into the overall tropi-
cal exhibit. The family unit—
composed of parents Curly
(born in 1993) and Laura Lee
(born in 2000) and their two
litters of offspring from 2007
and 2008—were piled into one
snoozy mass during SOFT’s
visit.
5. Quick
Fact:
Minnesota
Zoo
created
Fish Smart
They partner
with Twin City
restaurants and
businesses to
only provide sus-
tainable or good
seafood choices
to customers.
The zoo also
participates in
Seafood Watch.
the attention to detail (including Cyrillic text on faux crates) make you feel like you’ve
stepped into that area.
Inside the exhibit, which features a large double-pool arrangement set in front of faux
and natural rocks intended to simulate a craggy coast line, the three northern sea
otters have ample room to swim and rough-house with one another.
Once we were joined by Jenny, we learned that Capers arrived at Minnesota Zoo first,
in December 2006 after being rescued as a lone pup by the Alaska SeaLife Center and
spending some time at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. Jasper, another abandoned pup
rescued by Alaska SeaLife Center, arrived in August 2007. Along with Jasper came
Rocky, who was rescued by Alaska SeaLife Center at about the same time.
Like any animal or human, they each have their own personality, Jenny told us.
Rocky is the big boy that loves his toys, often carrying enrichment items all over the
exhibit and interacting with them long after the others have moved onto other things.
He also tends to be a bit of a food thief; maybe it’s his playful spirit. Capers is into ice
– eating it, playing with it, rolling around in it, chasing it, chomping it, you name it.
Jasper is the social butterfly, often spending time near the glass
so he can observe and interact with visitors and zoo staff.
While we watched the three males make their way around their
large exhibit space, Jenny explained how Minnesota Zoo still
considers itself a relatively new facility in the sea otter world and,
because of that, remains energetic about enhancing their
interactions with, enrichment of and care for their three charges.
She pointed out that their main pool in the exhibit is connected
with the keeper areas and pools behind the scenes and invited us
back to see what goes on back there.
But that’s a story for another day…stay tuned…
Part II of SOFT’s visit to Minnesota Zoo will be part of our next publication.
Capers munches some ice!
6. NY Aquarium–a great home for Jacob, Quint & Tazo–an update
The three sea otters calling NY Aquarium home are grateful to their keepers, especially for the work they performed keep-
ing them safe during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
SOFT visited the aquarium in spring 2014 and was able to take a behind the scenes tour with keeper Kayla Bergman to
visit Jacob and Quint. Tazo was in a different holding area at the time, so we spent our time with Jacob and Quint, both
southern sea otters. Kayla showed us around the aquarium’s extensive holding areas and introduced us to Jacob and
Quint individually. Jacob is an oldest of their sea otters and Kayla talked
about him being really sweet and it became obvious as we watched him
interact with her. She mentioned that currently his favorite enrichment
item was the oval ice balls that the staff makes from balloons.
We moved along in our tour to visit Quint–he is a young otter and Kayla
informed us he certainly exhibits the youngster attitude! Maybe he learned
some of his mischievous attitude during his pup days in California. See,
Quint is Monterey Bay Aquarium’s sea otter pup rescue #572. He was
taught well during his time with surrogate mom, Joy; and has since
learned to devour capelin, his favorite food! He must have outgrown the
shrimp he’s partaking of in this photo!
To read more on Quint’s early days at the Monterey Bay Aquarium:
http://otter-news.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-monterey-bay-aquarium-saving-sea.html
SOFT brings sea otter fun & education to classrooms
& event venues in Colorado
At one point, Colorado had two sea otters*–housed at Ocean Journey (n.k.a. Downtown Aquarium). For those that re-
member the sea otters of Ocean Journey, it is enjoyable to have an organization teaching about their importance once
again. For others, especially children, it is fun to learn about these endearing animals and what can be done to make a
difference for their ocean habitat, even from a land-locked state, 1200 miles inland!
*Maggie, now residing at
Georgia Aquarium &
Tyler, now residing at
UCSC: Long Marine
Laboratory
7. SOFT’s 1st Funding Grant
We are proud, excited & honored to issue our 1st round of supportive grants in late 2015 for funding distribution in early January 2016.
SOFT will announce specific guidelines & issue a Request for Proposal in Summer 2015. Who should consider applying?
Sea otter biologists with an affiliated University or College
AZA certified Zoological Facilities
Conservation organizations, 501(c)(3)
Education organizations, 501(c)(3)
K-12 schools
Not sure? Contact us to see if you qualify—we are happy to discuss your conservation initiative as it relates to the sea otter.
Don’t miss the RFP, sign up to receive our e-mails—www.SeaOtterFoundationTrust.org or
e-mail info@SeaOtterFoundationTrust.org to request the RFP.
Thank you to our donors & in-kind supporters
Individual donors:
Anonymous
RJ Banat
Steve & Chris Clifford
Walt & Barbara Clifford
Melany Barber
Fred Barmwater
Ann Beauvais
Joyce Booze
Erin Brumleve
Rich Busch
Chrissie Butz
Lindsay Carpenter
Colleen Carter
Jennifer Cassella
Lisa & Jim Christhilf
Lisa Corbin
Janice & Scott Craig
Chris Crary
Bill Elkjer
Pat Farrell
Risa Friskey
Alice Hosseini
Sherry Hosseini
Andrew Johnson &
Elin Kelsey
Robert Juszynski
Frank Lastoczy
Phil & Martha Lechuga
Brittany Leis
Kesley Low
Elizabeth Lynch
Cathy McGuire
David Meidinger &
Jessica Black
Amy Metz
Elizabeth Micallef &
Michael Long
Michael Murphy
Steve Norris
Diane Rose
Scott Shields
Rachel Simpson
Maialen Stroisch
Kathy Sullivan
Candis Townsend
Diane & David Tomecek
Lillian & Doug Tomecek
Stephen & Kristen Tomecek
Barry Walker
Bev & Eric Weaver
Kathy Wickett
Sandra Wong
Corporate Donors:
Babajoons
BARELaser LLC
Community Auction Services
Copper Kettle Brewing Co.
DaveCo Liquor Warehouse
Designs by Debbie
Form & Fitness Physical Therapy
Goodsearch LLC
Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery
King Soopers
Kokopelli Beer Company
Mile High Pipeline Inspectors LLC
Quaker Steak & Lube
The Rose House Fund
Sprouts
Supercuts –Westminster
Whole Foods
Yacht Club Salon
Salon Partners—
Recycling Program:
Salon Republic
Supercuts–Westminster
Supercuts–Denver
Yacht Club Salon
Partners in Recycling:
Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care
and Research Center
8. Contact Information
Sea Otter Foundation & Trust
PO Box 351946
Westminster, CO 80035
(303) 475-1805
info@SeaOtterFoundationTrust.org
Our website:
www.SeaOtterFoundationTrust.org
Follow us on Facebook:
Sea Otter Foundation & Trust—
SOFT
Donations can be mailed to the above
address or made via our website:
www.SeaOtterFoundationTrust.org/support
-us/
Sea Otter Foundation & Trust
PO Box 351946
Westminster, CO 80035-1946
www.SeaOtterFoundationTrust.org
Be Inspired—Help SOFT—Donate today and make your impact
for sea otters! Your gift will make a difference to sea otter biolo-
gists, conservation and education organizations….and ultimately,
we all will work together ensuring the survival and recovery of sea
otters!
