Sea otter pup may get a Peninsula name

PORT TOWNSEND — The five-week-old sea otter pup at the Seattle Aquarium — a Facebook celebrity if there ever was one — could soon be named after a North Olympic Peninsula beach, town or river.

Thanks to a local otter lover, the pup and her mother, Aniak, are now splashed across a 17-by-12-foot wall at Gallery 9, the artists’ cooperative at 1012 Water St.

Port Townsend-based photographer Nancy Cherry Eifert has filled the space with her brown-otters-blue-water images, captured on aquarium trips that began when the baby was just 8 days old.

Not surprisingly, the otter wall has gallery visitors agape.

“I just had two ladies in here from Bellingham, and they were drooling,” said Cynthia Thomas, an artist working at Gallery 9 on Friday afternoon.

Such admirers may take part in the naming contest now through Friday at SeattleAquarium.org.

Marketing and mammal-team staff members suggested the following options for the new pup: Sequim, Sekiu, Shi Shi, Elwha and Willapa.

Willapa Bay is a wildlife refuge near Ilwaco, but of course the rest of those names are pure Peninsula.

Otters at the aquarium traditionally have been named after places in Alaska, but with the Olympic Peninsula’s otter population recovering, staffers decided to introduce some new choices, said aquarium spokeswoman Laura Austin.

Recent counts have shown this region’s population is “in good shape,” Austin said.

A 2009 report estimated 1,100 sea otters in Washington state waters — an impressive count since the creatures were near extinction a few decades ago.

The winning name for the new pup will be announced on the aquarium website Monday.

“She looks like a Shi Shi to me,” said Eifert, who has devoted many hours to pup and mom over the past month.

“When I was there a couple weeks ago, she was using the Frisbee for teething,” Eifert said, adding that she’s watched Aniak care for her baby by holding her on her belly, “and turning her over and over again to groom every inch of her little body, taking a break now and then to let her nurse.”

Now and then, Aniak would lay the pup next to her on the water, and the youngster’s natal pelage — fluffy pup fur — allowed her to float like a cork, Eifert added.

A globe-trotting nature photographer who lives in Port Townsend with her artist husband Larry, Eifert marveled at how this otter pup came into the world.

“She was unexpected, an ‘accident,’” she said.

“Surprised as I was to hear this, I now understand. The aquarium isn’t set up for breeding, but for the rescue and rehabilitation of marine animals,” Eifert noted.

The pup had only a 50 percent chance of living at birth, she added.

“Because sea otters are born underwater, the pup must make it to the surface for its first breath; only half of all pups born make it there . . . Two strikes against her, yet there she is, a very fluffy 4-pound creature with the cutest button nose and eyes that are hard to see beneath all the downy fur.”

Eifert’s quintet of otter photographs are on display through March 31 at Gallery 9, which is open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The photographer’s website is www.NancyCherryEifert.com, while Web cameras and information on Aniak and her pup await at SeattleAquarium.org.

“I’d love to go back over tomorrow,” to take more photos, Eifert said Friday.

“She’s growing so fast . . . Dang, she’s cute.”

________

Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3550 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in Life

Matthew Nash / Olympic Peninsula News Group
Jennifer Scott of the Hudson Valley region in New York with her niece Calliope Scott of Denver walk the lavender fields of Jardin du Soleil. Scott said she loves lavender. Last week was their first time visiting a lavender farm.
Lavender weekend to bring concerts, food and music

Festivities set across Peninsula from Friday through Sunday

John Goar speaks to a group of visitors before leading them on a moonlit hike up Hurricane Hill for a tour of the constellations. Goar is a volunteer who leads the full moon hikes and dark sky telescope tours that are part of the astronomy program at Hurricane Ridge. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Hurricane Ridge astronomy program reveals treasures

Volunteer-run tour guides visitors at Hurricane Ridge

Karen Griffiths
Rainshadow Equine Sanctuary Team’s Debi Pavlich-Boaz leads Paliday calmly over a blue tarp as part of his daily training routine. She worked with the Yakima Sheriff’s Department to capture the mini stallion when he was running alongside a freeway, deftly evading capture. Without her help, and an offer to take him home, the sheriff’s department planned on taking the then-untrained pony to a local holding pen to await transport to a slaughter house in Canada. Instead, Paliday is now happily living the rest of days out as a gelding at the sanctuary.
HORSEPLAY: Peninsula animal rescue, shelters need our help

DID YOU KNOW that most of our local horse, dog and cat… Continue reading

A GROWING CONCERN: Get your garden schooled on Nutrients 101

AS WE MOVE through July and our yard and gardens are flourishing,… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Truth and honesty important in leadership

THROUGHOUT THE TORAH, we are taught the importance of honesty and justice.… Continue reading

Doug Benecke will be joined by Sallie Harrison for special music at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Program set for weekend service

Doug Benecke will present “Play Ball!” at 10:30 a.m.… Continue reading

The Rev Craig Vocelka will present “Listening for the Whisper” at 10:00 am this Sunday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson Street.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church plans service

The Rev. Craig Vocelka will present “A Thankful, Generous… Continue reading

The Rev. Pam Douglas-Smith.
Speaker set at Unity in Port Townsend for weekend service

The Rev. Pam Douglas-Smith will present “Divine Feeding of… Continue reading

Suzan Mannisto, co-manager of Pioneer Memorial Park, introduces the “Pathway Accessible to All Project” as Sequim Irrigation Festival Prince Malachi Byrne looks on. (Sequim Prairie Garden Club)
Garden Club launches path at Pioneer Memorial Park

Organization seeking additional grants, fundraising

Map of lots available in Port Angeles from 1890.
BACK WHEN: Port Angeles celebrating 135 years on July 4

HERE IT IS. July 5, and we celebrated the 249th anniversary of… Continue reading

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Zane Rensen, 6, of Port Angeles receives patriotic face paint from Port Angeles High School cheerleader Madison Bishop in the children's activity tent at Port Angeles City Pier during Friday's Independence Day celebration.
Independence celebration

Port Angeles celebrated Independence Day with sights and sounds of America on… Continue reading