Otter fever has hit Vancouver.
The news this week that a rogue river otter infiltrated Chinatown’s Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and has reportedly eaten at last count five or six koi has created quite a stir around the city.
Media coverage has been widespread and the otter now has its own Twitter account, @ChinatownOtter, and hashtag, #Otterwatch2018, and has racked up more than 380 followers in just 24 hours. Alliances are becoming evident with #teamotter going up against #teamkoi.
Since popping up Wednesday, the wayward semi-aquatic mammal has been a prolific on Twitter taunting its would-be captors…
Foolish humans! You'll never catch me!#otterwatch2018 #ChinatownYVR
— Chinatown Otter (@ChinatownOtter) November 21, 2018
nom nom nom *cough* *cough* HISSS *cough*
— Chinatown Otter (@ChinatownOtter) November 21, 2018
Choked on a fishbone again. Need to go for a swim. brb#otterwatch2018 #ChinatownYVR
Contemplating a run for mayor…
I should have run for Mayor last month. #vanpoli#Otterwatch2018 #ChinatownYVR #FeedingLair https://t.co/Ab2lCTrPr7
— Chinatown Otter (@ChinatownOtter) November 22, 2018
Getting advice from other local celebrity animals with Twitter accounts, including the Olympic Village beaver @VancouverBeaver and @VanCityPenguin…
Dear @ChinatownOtter,
— VanCityPenguin (@vancitypenguin) November 22, 2018
I can show you a much better place to eat than the @vangarden
Hope to catch a meal with you soon.#OtterWatch2018
Nice to meet you. Good luck with the fish. Don’t touch the trees. Unless they have chicken wire around the trunk.
— OlympicVillageBeaver (@VancouverBeaver) November 22, 2018
Threatening to haunt the garden if "anything should happen..."
If something happens to me, know that my spirit will haut the park for a long time.#Otterwatch2018 #ChinatownYVR https://t.co/rztKhtGXIr
— Chinatown Otter (@ChinatownOtter) November 22, 2018
And suggesting sharing the title of the city’s unofficial ambassador with Vancouver’s favourite bird Canuck the Crow…
Canuck could be the ambassador in the air and in the trees (and at crime scenes).
— Chinatown Otter (@ChinatownOtter) November 22, 2018
I'd be the ambassador for parks and lakes.#Otterwatch2018 #ChinatownYVR #FeedingLair https://t.co/2Olqz7TSCs
As of Thursday afternoon the otter still had not been caught. Earlier in the week Howard Normann, director of parks, told reporters that the park board does have a backup plan if it isn't able to trap the animal but was non-committal on a timeline.
#Otterwatch2018 continues...
@JessicaEKerr
jkerr@vancourier.com
