If you’ve been following this blog you know that I LOVE animals, so you can imagine how excited I was when I found out that you can actually interact and swim with otters.
I’m always very careful when it comes to arranging an animal encounter. I’d never do it at any place that abuses animals such as these cruel elephant rides in Thailand or dolphins in the pool. However, I cannot recommend Nurtured by Nature highly enough as it’s a genuine organization that supports both animals and the local community.
Swim With Otters in California
Disclaimer: I visited Nurtured by Nature in 2015. I have heard that things have changed since my last visit. Therefore, I’ve no clue and have no way to check, if this place is still ethical or not.
How is this possible? Nurtured by Nature is a nonprofit organization that was formed by husband and wife team, Kevin & Wendy Yates, in Valley Center, CA (near San Diego) after Southern California wildfires destroyed their home and surrounding area in 2003.
After experiencing love, goodwill, and unconditional outreach and support from the entire community to help rebuild their home, they wanted to give back to the same community that gave so much!
Kevin & Wendy’s appreciation for family, community, and the natural world, has fostered the idea of Nurtured by Nature – to provide solace in times of misfortune or trouble. Nurtered by Nature works closely with Make-A-Wish foundation and let’s terminally ill kids interact with animals and gets donations from visitors like myself.
If you want to book this encounter you need to plan it months in advance as the wait is pretty long and the only reason I was able to do it on a short-notice was due to a cancellation.
I recommend staying at one of the hotels in San Diego, CA and rent a car to get there, as there’s not much to do in Central Valley itself.
San Diego, however, offers lots of different activities that you can enjoy just 45 minutes away from Nurtered by Nature.
I started my encounter from touring the property and saying hello to various animals: lemurs, armadillo, sloth and… two baby otters! Otters are incredibly friendly and very social, so they loved to played with us.
I got an opportunity to feed a porcupine who I didn’t think would be look so cute!
Mr. Kangaroo didn’t seem to like to as much as I liked him and pushed me away, but then returned for a piece of banana. I guess even kangaroos can be moody.
The most exciting part of the experience was however a bath with a group of otters. They were swimming around me playing with their toys and my hair all the time making the whole experience amazing! These otters couldn’t have been cuter!
Here’s a photo from the actual swim. The otters were quite invasive and swam wherever they wanted – don’t tell me I didn’t warn you 😉
Have you been to Nurtured by Nature? What’s your experience there? Let me know in the comments below!
VIRGINIA CRABTREE
Tuesday 19th of July 2016
I'd like to know of a number to reserve a appt to swim.with the otters Virginia crabtree
Anna
Wednesday 20th of July 2016
It's on their website Nurtered by Nature :)
Meghan
Monday 30th of November 2015
Cute overload alert! OMG, never knew baby otters were so cute!
Kamil B
Tuesday 24th of November 2015
OMG, I'm officialy obssesed with animals! That's just too cute and adorable! I can't stand it :D
Anna
Tuesday 24th of November 2015
Go visit this place :D
Nadia
Tuesday 24th of November 2015
Beautiful creatures. You look very happy!
Anna
Tuesday 24th of November 2015
I was :D
Karisa @ Flirting with the Globe
Tuesday 24th of November 2015
Omg - they are so cute! I'm dying!
Anna
Monday 14th of March 2016
Go swim with them too! :D