J Scott Shannon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
otterfamily) wrote2007-02-16 02:44 am
otterfamily) wrote2007-02-16 02:44 am
It's a girl!
Yesterday evening, for the first time since last October, I saw all three otters out together, and finally, FINALLY, I was able to confirm the gender of the newcomer. It is indeed a yearling female! I'd suspected this for a while based solely on her diminuitive size, but to be absolutely sure, I had to wait for an opportunity to see her pee. Now, I am 100% positive that there is a new female at Trinidad Bay. Hooray!!!
I think I can credit Slick for recruiting her, as those two were each other's constant companion last night; the little girl following him everywhere like he was her big brother. Chirper was more or less indifferent about her (that's oh-so-typical for the eldest male), but he was quite tolerant of her company. This is actually only the second instance of me seeing a yearling female being accepted as a long-term social co-equal with the adult males; the other time being 15 years ago when Little Junior (Little Mama) was a full member of the male Clan during her yearling year.
I'm calling her "Nova." A long time ago I'd decided that if Old Mama's lineage did die out, and a new female came to reside here, that's what I'd name her. So, welcome to Trinidad Bay, little Nova! I honestly didn't think I'd live to see this happen, but once again, I am so happy I was wrong!
I think I can credit Slick for recruiting her, as those two were each other's constant companion last night; the little girl following him everywhere like he was her big brother. Chirper was more or less indifferent about her (that's oh-so-typical for the eldest male), but he was quite tolerant of her company. This is actually only the second instance of me seeing a yearling female being accepted as a long-term social co-equal with the adult males; the other time being 15 years ago when Little Junior (Little Mama) was a full member of the male Clan during her yearling year.
I'm calling her "Nova." A long time ago I'd decided that if Old Mama's lineage did die out, and a new female came to reside here, that's what I'd name her. So, welcome to Trinidad Bay, little Nova! I honestly didn't think I'd live to see this happen, but once again, I am so happy I was wrong!