Brownies Adopt Otter!

One of the badges that a Girl Scout Brownies troop in Bend earned this year showed that they learned how to care properly for pets and other animals. So, when their annual cookie sales of more than 1,800 boxes exceeded their goal, they decided to use $100 of the proceeds to “adopt” the Museum’s river otter, Thomas.

They visited the Museum today to visit Thomas, learn all about him from one of our educators, and receive their Adopt An Animal package. Adopting an animal at the Museum allows you to help provide the food and care needed by more than 100 animals that live here.

After the 12 girls, ages seven to nine, discussed their favorite types of girl scout cookies (Thin mints! S’mores! Tagalongs!), Erica Benton, assistant curator of education, brought out a river otter pelt (from a wild otter that died of natural causes), so they could touch real otter fur.

The troop received Adopt An Animal buttons, an adoption certificate, a color photo portrait of Thomas and information about him, and their troop is included in our album of adoptive parents on display at the Museum.

This troop are helping to support the Museum’s work of caring for rescued animals. Here, people can meet them close-up – from raptors, porcupines, and badgers to a bobcat, lynx, fox and otter. And, when people learn about these animals and their habitats, they are inspired to help protect them.

The troop headed outside to the Autzen Otter Pond exhibit to meet Thomas and left us knowing that they are helping an animal that cannot survive in the wild.

Animal adoptions start at $20 and make great gifts. It’s easy. Visit www.highdesertmuseum.org/get_involved/Adopt_an_Animal/