BEND, OR — High Desert Museum visitors will have their first official opportunity to see the new, baby North American river otter on Wednesday, September 21 when he joins two other otters full-time in the Autzen Otter Exhibit.
The Museum will celebrate the addition of the male pup, now approximately 5 1/2 months old, at 2:30 pm. Visitors will be able to view the pup, who is yet to be named, as well as the other two male otters in the Museum’s care, Brook and Pitch. Naturalists will be at an Otter Fodder Interpretation Station to share interesting scientific facts about this mammal, as well as pelts, skulls and other interactive items to engage visitors.
“North American river otters are so playful and engaging, and they have so much to teach us about riparian ecosystems,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “We’re excited for the public to share the excitement of welcoming this new addition to the Museum.”
Media representatives are invited to meet the young otter, as well as Museum staff, today, Tuesday, September 20, from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Please contact Director of Communications Heidi Hagemeier if you wish to visit.
Wednesday, September 21, is also Senior Day at the Museum, with those age 65 and older receiving free admission. Senior Day is made possible by Mid Oregon Credit Union.
Visitors will still be able to access otter activities beyond this Wednesday. Naturalists will continue sharing at the Otter Fodder Interpretation Station, which will be located after Wednesday inside the Autzen Otter Exhibit, regularly throughout October from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. And daily Otter Encounter naturalist talks will take place at the Autzen Otter Exhibit at 1:00 pm through November.
Wednesday is not the baby’s first time in the Autzen Otter Exhibit. He was introduced in doses over the course of months as part of helping him become confident in the habitat and acquainting the three otters with each other. This took place with wildlife staff supervision.
“We supervised early interactions while the baby otter was small to make sure everyone stayed safe,” Museum Curator of Wildlife Jon Nelson said. “He’s not quite as big as the older otters yet, but they are all getting along well and enjoying playing, eating and napping together. They do quite a bit of roughhousing, and the baby holds his own with Pitch and Brook.”
Before exposure to the exhibit habitat, the pup also needed time in the water to become a proficient swimmer. Wildlife curators helped the otter splash in the Museum’s stream and in a human child’s play pool before bringing him into the water of the exhibit.
The otter came into the care of the Museum in May after he was found away from water on a golf course near Sunriver. Then believed to be about 8 weeks old, he was emaciated and severely dehydrated, and after multiple wildlife professionals attempted to locate his mother over nearly a week, the state determined he should remain at the Museum.
“Without his parents he wouldn’t have survived in the wild,” Nelson said. “This was a unique situation where this otter pup does appear to have been legitimately orphaned.”
The pup, which weighed 2.4 pounds on arrival, presently weighs about 15 pounds. In the wild, otters become independent at about 12 months old.
“Caring for a young otter is intense work, and our wildlife team has done an incredible job juggling bottle feedings around the clock early on and supervising the otter through this time,” Whitelaw said.
This is not the first young otter to come into the Museum’s care. Pitch was found along the Metolius River and was brought to the Museum in 2017, and wildlife staff raised him from about 7 weeks old.
Brook, the other male otter, is approximately 10 years old. In March, a third river otter, Rogue, 12, was humanely euthanized after his health deteriorated rapidly. Otters live about eight to nine years in the wild, and often longer in human care.
The Museum cares for more than 130 animals, from otters to raptors. All the animals are nonreleasable, primarily due to injuries or because they are habituated — meaning they became too familiar with humans and possibly never learned how to hunt or avoid predators. At the Museum, they serve as ambassadors who educate visitors about the conservation of High Desert species and landscapes.
The opportunity to name the new otter was auctioned off in August at the High Desert Rendezvous, the Museum’s largest fundraising event of the year. The winning bidder has yet to determine the name.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM:
The HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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BEND, OR — An organic, local art show returns for its second year to the High Desert Museum, and this year promises to be the largest one yet. The 20-Dollar Art Show launches at the Museum on Friday, October 28 with an opening night art-buying party. Tickets go on sale for the popular event on Friday, September 23 at 9:00 am.
The 20-Dollar Art Show is a celebration of local art and features thousands of original artworks covering the gallery walls of the High Desert Museum. Artwork is not bigger than 36 square inches, and every piece costs $20. Participants can select and pay for their favorite artwork, taking it home opening night through Monday, October 31 at 5:00 pm.
Bright Place Gallery in Bend, owned by Stuart Breidenstein and Abby Dubief, debuted The 20-Dollar Art Show in fall 2013 as an opportunity for artists to share their work with the public in a low-pressure setting where they could build confidence selling art. The Gallery did not take a commission. The artists kept 100 percent of sales and the art show was a success for all.
By 2019, the annual show grew to display more than 2,100 pieces of art from 120 local and regional artists, amateur and professional. On opening night, 900 pieces sold in three hours for $20 each. Like many beloved events, the COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on the thriving local art show. This year, the exhibit and sale will feature over 3,000 pieces of local artwork.
“After the success of last year’s show at the Museum, we are excited to continue the partnership,” said Bright Place Gallery owner Stuart Breidenstein. “Artist submissions skyrocketed this year, and the Museum allows us the opportunity to welcome more creators, making the exhibit bigger and better.”
At this year’s opening event on Friday, October 28 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, participants will enter the High Desert Museum through the large meadow. The snaking line will work its way into the Museum where participants can view and have the opportunity to purchase artwork. The event takes place the Friday before Halloween and participants are encouraged to wear costumes. Participants should come prepared for the elements, rain or shine.
“This event stewarded by Bright Place Gallery is a unique opportunity to connect to the regional art community,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “It’s also an opportunity for us to turn our walls over to new artists, allowing them to find a voice and an audience.”
Art will be available for purchase through Monday, October 31 at 5:00 pm. Each $20 piece directly supports the artist.
Tickets for The 20-Dollar Art Show Opening Night Party are available beginning Friday, September 23 at 9:00 am at highdesertmuseum.org/20-dollar-art-show-2022. Tickets are $5 person and guests 16 and younger are free. Space is limited. The 20-Dollar Art Show closes Monday, October 31.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM:
The HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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