See wildlife up close in new Otter Adventure

A brand-new traveling show that features playful otters will come to this year’s Steele County Free Fair, after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its debut.

Greg Woody said he created Otter Adventure to not only entertain, but to educate the public about those animals and wildlife in general.

“If people don’t get a chance to see them, they don’t know about them,” he said. “They’re cute and active little guys, but they can also be destructive.”

Otters have long bodies and short limbs, with webbed feet that propel them through the water. They live mostly on fish, Woody said, and people may be surprised to learn they have very sharp claws.

“They’re cute and loving, but they’re also carnivorous,” Woody said. “They’re not something you’d keep as a pet.”

Woody said he has been around wildlife all his life and in the business for about 40 years. He also has what he calls the largest herd of mini-cows in the country.

The idea for Otter Adventure came from realizing how much interest people have in the animals. Along with events like the fair, he also brings the act to events like sporting shows.

“Otters are something a lot of people are intrigued by,” he said.

Last week, Woody was putting the finishing touches on a 3,400-gallon water tank that will provide a habitat for the otters. The show, he said, will consist of showing off some tricks they’ve learned, an opportunity to watch them being fed, as well as information about the animals and what he believes is real truth about wildlife in general.

“If it wasn’t for man, wildlife wouldn’t exist,” he said, explaining that when an animal is becoming extinct, people make the effort to bring it back. “Mother Nature kills a lot of animals every year.”

Along with performances at the fair – Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Wednesday-Sunday, at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. – visitors will have an opportunity to just observe the otters playing.

Woody guarantees it’ll be entertaining.

“Everything otters do is cute,” he said.