The River Museum recently welcomed Heather Bedard, the rehabilitator who first cared for our female otter, Becky. Joined by her husband, Mike, and family friends, Heather had the chance to see Becky thriving in her habitat alongside Tom, our Male otter. Andy Allison, Vice President of Living Collections, and Maia Allison, Curator of Marine Life and Ambassador Animals, guided the group through an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the otter habitat, watching the otters get fed and some of their training. Heather shared insight and reflections on her work in wildlife rehabilitation and her special connection to Becky.
Q: What is your professional title or position in relation to animal rehabilitation?
Heather: I am no longer an active wildlife rehabilitator, but at the time I cared for Becky, I was a licensed rehabilitator volunteering with the Black Hawk Wildlife Rehabilitation Project (BHWRP).
Q: Where did you travel from to visit Becky on this occasion?
H: We currently live in Des Moines, but Becky was originally rehabbed in Waterloo, Iowa.
Q: How did you first meet Becky?
H: Becky came into my care on May 20, 2019. Black Hawk Animal Control brought her to me after she was found alone in a backyard in Waterloo. At the time, the area was experiencing heavy rains, so we believe her family den flooded and she was separated from the rest of her family in the chaos.
Q: For those who may not know, what does wildlife rehabilitation entail?
H: Wildlife rehabilitation provides care for sick, injured, or orphaned wild animals with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into their natural habitats once they’re strong and old enough. Some rehabilitators work out of their homes, like those with BHWRP, while others operate within a facility setting.
Q: How long did you personally work with Becky?
H: Becky was with me from May 20, 2019, until September 30, 2019, when I transferred her care to the River Museum. Altogether, she spent about four months in my care.
Q: What about your time with Becky makes her story so memorable for you?
H: When Becky arrived, I had only been volunteering as a wildlife rehabber for a few years. BHWRP hadn’t taken in a North American river otter in more than 15 years, and previous attempts at otter rehabilitation hadn’t been successful. Up to that point, my experience was mostly with raccoons and opossums.
Because of that, Becky ended up with me. I was friends with the Animal Control officer who rescued her, and since no one else in the organization had otter experience, I had to figure things out largely on my own. Eventually, I connected with Anna, the rehabber who had cared for Tom (the other otter in the care of the River Museum), and I also found some valuable online resources to guide me.
From day one, Becky, whom I nicknamed “Ott-petott” or just “Ott,” was unlike any animal I’d worked with. She was playful, easygoing, full of personality, and incredibly gentle. Teaching her to swim and hunt fish in our bathtub, and acting as her surrogate mom, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My husband and I looked forward to caring for her every day; she brought us so much joy.
Of course, it was also daunting to feel so responsible for her survival with so little prior guidance. But the experience was unforgettable. And I’ll never look at bathtubs the same way again!
Q: What does it mean to you to see Becky years later, thriving in her new home?
H: It warms my heart every time I see her on the Ottercam, happy, playful, and with another otter by her side.
At first, it was hard to accept that she wasn’t releasable. As a rehabber, your goal is always to return animals to the wild. Letting go of that hope was difficult. But knowing she is safe, well cared for, and able to live a long, enriched life brings me so much joy.
When I first dropped her off, it was heartbreaking as her stand-in mom, saying goodbye, wasn’t easy. But seeing her now, thriving and content, makes it all worthwhile.
I still remember Kurt Strand telling me, six years ago, about the plan to build this new enclosure. To see that vision finally come true, and to visit Becky and Tom in their beautiful new home, is incredibly exciting.
Heather with Becky at 8 weeks old, and Becky at 26 weeks old.