A new otter exhibit is at the Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Zoo

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – A new otter exhibit is drawing attention at the Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Zoo. The two otter brothers Petey and Copper were donated by the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Michigan.

Zookeeper Ron Bodette told WFHR last week they have to change the otter’s pond water every two weeks. It’s currently a bit green from algae and due to be changed on Friday. However, Ron said they are planning to try otter-safe chemicals first.

 ”We reached out to Potter Zoo and they gave us some ideas [about] what they’re using to keep their algae down. So we ordered some stuff.” explains Bodette.

He said they’re going to give the animal-safe chemicals a chance to work first before changing the water again.

“ City water has chlorine in it anyway, so I’d rather they swim in green water than- putting themselves at risk, you know?” says Bodette.

The otter brothers get fed three times a day. Nebraska sausage in the morning, kibble dog food, but mostly fish. Zookeeper Alysha Wolosek said they received a large amount of frozen fish from the DNR.

“We had the DNR donate around 200 pounds of fish that they had done a shocking research in one of our lakes around here, and they donated all those fish to us,” explains Wolosek. “ So we’ve been feeding them fish from around here in our waters. Perch, trout, white bass, and smallmouth bass.”

Caring for the animals in the zoo

Both Bodette and Wolosek feed the animals from roughly 7:30-10:30am every day. All of the animals, except the otters, get fed once a day.

Wolosek explained more about their care of the zoo animals.

“They have automatic waters so their water’s constantly cold,” she said. “We clean their pens once a day. The petting zoo gets cleaned out once a week, completely cleaned out [and filled with] new hay.”

The zoo draws hundreds of people

The Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Zoo may not seem very large from the outside; however, they have a surprising number of animals to see. The petting zoo attracts between 400-800 guests on a typical day. On holidays, that number can be over 1,000.

The zoo is located at 1911 Gaynor Avenue and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 7pm. There’s no fee to enter, but they will happily accept donations at the small red box by the petting zoo.