Louis the otter has a new friend at The Robins Nature Center at Maymont. A three-year-old female otter is expected to make her debut in March and Maymont wants the public’s help selecting her name.

The new otter arrived shortly after Thanksgiving. Like Louis, who arrived at Maymont as a two-year-old in 2017, she is from Louisiana. Local wildlife authorities deemed both otters nuisance predators for local crawfish harvesters, said Joe Neel, Maymont Senior Manager of Zoology.

“We are happy to give her a second chance at a long and healthy life here at Maymont,” Mr. Neel said. “River otters have made a comeback in the past decade after a long absence from the James River Park System thanks to improved water quality, but they can be difficult to spot in the wild.”

The new otter has been acclimating to her new environment with the help of Maymont’s staff. After quarantining for a month, she and Louis have been gradually getting acquainted in adjacent spaces following a regulated introduction. On quiet days at The Robins Nature Center, she and Louis take turns in the otter habitat’s outdoor pool area where they swim and bask in the sun on rocks.

“We are delighted to provide a forever home to this rescued otter in the habitat at Maymont,” said Parke Richeson, Maymont’s president and CEO. “Otters are an important species in a healthy James River ecosystem and they help engage our guests in learning more about the environment.”

Maymont supporters can submit name suggestions when signing up to adopt an animal until Feb. 25 on Maymont’s website.

From March 1 to March 8, the public can vote on the top three name suggestions in a poll on Maymont’s social media or through its newsletter.

Meet the new otter and find out her name at The Robins Nature Center on March 15

through 17. The Center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children age 3 to 16 and free for Maymont members and Museums for All participants. For more information, visit www.maymont.org/support/adopt-an-animal.