Mae Day

She's hilarious. She's cute. And when she's in a mood, she sticks her tongue out, and it makes me want to squeeze her.

Never mind the fact that she'd probably take my nose off for it -- Mae is my favorite sea otter, on most days.

I love that she's afraid of her own shadow (and those big, scary fish that like to hang out beneath her during feeding and training sessions, for scraps of food that she pushes off her tummy-table, as she sorts through for her favorite pieces of yumminess). I love that she is the laziest about her personal grooming, of any of our girls. Note the slick spots on her side?

Mae knows more behaviors than any of the other sea otters we have on exhibit, and is quick to pick up on new ones. She seems to enjoy ice the most, and her signature move is tucking things -- a toy, a second piece of ice, etc., curled up with her tail, like a monkey.

Mae the Monkey-Otter.


Classic Mae, sticking her tongue out.

Mae, enjoying a bounty of patriotic-themed ice for the 4th... Notice her sleek coat.