Our Otter Family Album
Mae
Mae was stranded at Corcoran Lagoon in Santa Cruz and rescued in April 2001, when she was two days old. Despite efforts of staff and volunteers with our Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program, she did not develop the survival skills she'd need in the wild.
Her name—selected in an online poll—comes from John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. It was the name of a truck-stop waitress with a screeching voice.
Mae is dark brown in color, with prominent ears and white whiskers. She joined the exhibit in December 2001.
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Maggie
Maggie was found stranded on a beach in San Simeon State Park (San Luis Obispo County) in February 2001. She was about one week old and weighed just over three pounds.
Aquarium staff released Maggie into the wild in October 2001, but recaptured her in February 2003, after receiving several reports about her interacting with divers, surfers and kayakers. Federal officials agreed with aquarium staff that Maggie should be removed from the wild to prevent injury to herself and to people.
Her name is derived from "Margie," a fortuneteller in John Steinbeck's novel, The Winter of Our Discontent.
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Rosa
Rosa joined our Sea Otter exhibit in June 2002. A "graduate" of our Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program, she was found stranded in September 1999 near Sunset and Manressa state beaches in southern Santa Cruz County. She was about four weeks old and weighed just over five pounds.
Rosa was released in April 2000 and spent nearly two years in the wild until she began climbing onto occupied kayaks and interacting with divers. Because of the potential risks to herself and people, federal wildlife officials determined that she should be removed from the wild.
To find Rosa, look for the white speckles on her face. She is named after a girlfriend of Danny, the main character in John Steinbeck's Tortilla Flats—the first of his Cannery Row novels.
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Toola
Ill and tremoring, Toola was found stranded on Pismo Beach in the summer of 2001. Diagnosed with a seizure disorder, Toola needs daily medication to remain seizure-free. When she's not on exhibit, Toola plays a vital role behind the scenes as a companion, mentor and surrogate mother for rescued otters.
Toola is nicknamed after an obscure character in the Steinbeck novel Sweet Thursday. She spends most of her time behind the scenes with the Sea Otter Research and Conservation Program (SORAC) caring for stranded pups. To identify Toola, look for the light blonde fur on her head and muzzle.
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Joy
In August 1998, rescuers found five-day-old Joy stranded on Twin Lakes Beach in Santa Cruz. After release, Joy interacted with kayakers and divers, which wasn't safe for them or for Joy. So we brought her back to the aquarium, where she's a companion and surrogate mother for rescued otters.
Joy's name comes from John Steinbeck's In Dubious Battle. Joy spends most of her time behind the scenes with the Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program caring for stranded pups, but she's occasionally on exhibit.
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Goldie (Died June 27, 2002)
Goldie arrived at the aquarium on February 22, 1984. She was found orphaned at Asilomar State Beach at the age of about five weeks.
Goldie had a dark brown coat; her head was a golden color, especially on her cheeks. After feeding, she would retire to a corner of the exhibit to groom.
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Hailey (Died January 3, 2002)
Hailey arrived at the aquarium on March 28, 1984. She was found orphaned on Carmel Beach at the age of about three weeks.
Hailey had a light gray and white coat. She liked to join Goldie in the corner of the exhibit to groom after feeding. She was a delight to visitors of all ages.
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Roscoe (Died November 14, 2001)
Roscoe arrived at the aquarium on March 26, 1986. He was found orphaned at Del Monte State Beach at the age of about two weeks. He was 15 when he died at the aquarium in 2001. (The life span for a wild male sea otter is typically 10 to 15 years).
Roscoe was the first pup we ever attempted to return to the wild through our Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program, but unfortunately he was unable to make the transition back to the wild. Instead, he became part of the exhibit and touched the lives of millions of people who visited over the years.
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