Meet Ginger, the Trailside Museum's newest addition. She is otterly adorable

MILTON − The Blue Hills Trailside Museum has a new resident that everyone really otter see.

Ginger, a North American river otter, joined the Milton wildlife center on Monday, March 4.

According to the museum, the newcomer was born in February 2022 at Zoo New England’s Stone Zoo in Stoneham to her mother Dunkin. Her father, 16-year-old Sushi, died before Ginger and her siblings, Bamboo and Gary, were born.

The museum is run by Mass Audubon in partnership with the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Ginger may be the new kid on the block, but she is not the only otter to call the area home.

She joins the longtime resident and fellow female North American river otter known simply as Otter, who turned 18 on March 1 and “remains happy and healthy,” according to an announcement of Ginger's arrival from the museum.

They can live eight to nine years in the wild but have lived up to 21 years in captivity, according to the National Wildlife Foundation.

Will the two otters become fast friends?

Otter imprinted on humans as a baby and has never been inclined to cohabitate with others of her species, so she and Ginger will take turns being on exhibit, the announcement said.

“Otter has been one of Trailside’s most popular wildlife ambassadors for nearly two decades, and the addition of Ginger will bring a ‘new generation’ energy and perspective to visitors’ understanding of these sleek and engaging animals,” the announcement said.

Not all otters behave and play in the same way

The museum noted that while river otters share the same dark brown appearance and can be difficult to tell apart, their typically playful behaviors can vary and help with identification.

“For example, Otter loves to swim up from the pool and flip off a wall at one end, while Ginger can be observed twirling below the surface and frolicking in the waterfall,” the museum said.

Worldwide, there are 13 species of otters − the largest members of the weasel family − and North America is home to two of them: river otters and sea otters.

“Ginger is a lively young otter who already has become a great addition to our community of exhibit animals that both engage and inspire visitors of all ages,” said Lauren Gordon, regional director of Mass Audubon’s Metro South Wildlife Sanctuaries, which includes Trailside.

“We encourage everyone, including young nature lovers, to discover for themselves just how delightful these creatures can be,” Gordon added. “Otters offer hard-to-resist invitations for people to forge their own connections with the natural world.”

What other live animals can you see at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum?

The animals at the Trailside Museum are either orphans raised by humans, permanently disabled by injury, were born in captivity or are impossible to return to their exact habitat.

In addition to the otters, other animals in both indoor and outdoor displays include deer, a variety of turtle and owl species, foxes, eagles, hawks, vultures, a rattlesnake, copperhead and garter snakes.

What else is there to do at the museum?

In addition to the exhibit and self-guided trails, the museum hosts nature camps, adult learning opportunities and programs for families, school groups and others during the year.

When is the Blue Hills Trailside Museum open?

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. The outdoor exhibits are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 1904 Canton Ave., Milton.

How much are Blue Hills Trailside Museum tickets?

Tickets are $3 for children ages 2-12, $4 for adults and $5 for seniors. Admission is free for Mass Audubon members.

To learn more about Ginger, river otters and the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, visit Massaudubon.org/bluehills.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Blue Hills trailside Museum gets a second otter