Milwaukee Zoo releases details for new otter exhibit and West Entrance

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – The northwest corner of the Milwaukee County Zoo has been revamped with a new North American River otters exhibit and the unveiling of admission, parking, concessions and merchandise area. The new area will open Saturday, May 19.

Three female river otters named Emerald, Clover and Shamrock will be in the outdoor exhibit named "Otter Passage" to greet guests entering the Zoo from the new entrance. As zookeepers monitor the otters they may rotate their time on exhibit and a male otter will eventually join the group to establish a breeding colony.

Otter Passage has two pools, one of which is 8 feet deep, a splash pad, and a river with moving water and 15-foot slide.

Zookeepers who care for the otters expressed a need for the animals to have different materials in which to dig such as dirt, grass and rock to keep the otters engaged and interested. An underwater viewing area, and an artificial hollowed-out tree for kids to enter for an up-close look at the otters’ den is also part of the exhibit.

The revamped West Entrance location will have 525 visitor parking spaces. The entrance will be open daily from May 26 through September 4 and then on weekends only through Halloween.