SUAMICO, Wis. (WFRV) – After over two months of searching and awaiting the return of runaway Louie, the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park says it has ended efforts to locate the missing otter.
Louie and Ophelia went missing after escaping their habitats on Thursday, March 20, but on March 28, the latter of the couple returned home.
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Unfortunately, the search for Louie has been unsuccessful, and on May 30, the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park said that they will no longer continue search efforts for the missing otter.
“Due to the length of time that Louie has been missing, we believe he has made the decision to be a wild otter,” the post said. “We accept this, although we would, of course, welcome him home if he decides to return.”
In the nearly 2.5 months since Louie’s adventure away, he has not been spotted in the same yard or area of search efforts. Had he been spotted, traps would’ve been set to bring him home.
However, the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park mentioned that enough reports of sightings in similar areas lead staff to believe Louie will be just fine to survive as a wild otter.
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Instead, the staff is working with the North American River Otter Species Survival Plan to find another male otter to mate with Ophelia.
Additional details will be provided as they become available.
