Sudden illness kills 3 NEW Zoo otters

GREEN BAY - Three North American river otters at the NEW Zoo died suddenly last week, leaving zoo staffers devastated and in search of answers.

The two pups and their mother, all of whom had appeared fine on Wednesday afternoon, became extremely ill the next day, Zoo Director Neil Anderson said Tuesday night. The pups were part of the first litter born at the zoo, which is a Brown County-run facility in Suamico.

The mother, named Bonnie, had turned 2 on April 29. The pups, born March 11, had yet to be named. The facility's remaining two adult and two young otters have been placed in isolation.

"We're all just devastated," Anderson said. "They were all so active, and it was like someone just turned a switch off."

He said a veterinarian suspects a fast-moving infection, possibly viral, struck the animals. But officials won't be certain of the cause of death until they have the results of tests done on the animals. That could take three to four weeks.

All four pups had received routine vaccinations on Wednesday and appeared to handle them well, Anderson said. But on Thursday morning, a zoo worker found two pups lying ill. Not long after, a zoo visitor noticed their mother experiencing severe digestive problems.

"Our veterinarian was right there on the spot," Anderson said. "We pulled (Bonnie) right off-exhibit and got antibiotics into her immediately."

The pups died on Thursday. Bonnie died  about 28 hours of falling ill.

Because officials don't know what killed the animals, the zoo has separated the remaining four.

The pups' father, 6-year-old Skokie, had been in the same enclosure with Bonnie and her pups, but has not shown signs of illness. Anderson said Minnie, an 18-year-old female, is not exhibiting symptoms but has been quarantined inside the facility's medical building as a precaution.

The fact that Skokie appears fine indicates that the illness might have passed from Bonnie to her pups, Anderson said.

And because zookeepers aren't sure what the illness is, they are taking precautions when handling the animals. Anderson said that's to reduce the risk that the illness might spread between animals or, potentially, to zoo staff.

The zoo is planning a media announcement on Wednesday.

Fonferek alcohol ban pushed

A Brown County committee voted 4-0 Tuesday night to recommend an ordinance that would ban alcohol and smoking at Fonferek's Glen County Park in Ledgeview.

The Education and Recreation Committee of the County Board also recommended that county parks officials study the potential costs of placing a full-time ranger at the park. Park neighbors and visitors complain that the site is a popular spot for underage drinking, marijuana-smoking, and trespassing on neighboring properties.

Allowing "no alcohol in the park is a good idea, but I'm not sure it's enough," said Katy Martin, who lives on nearby Dutchman Road. "There is trouble by the quarry … and there is a while lot more in the woods."

A 34-year-old De Pere woman died in August 2013 when she fell about 40 feet to the creek bed while trying to assist a man who had fallen and been hurt. This past May, a Green Bay man had to be rescued by firefighters after breaking bones in a fall estimated at 50 feet. Neither was linked to alcohol, but supervisors say drinking increase the risk of someone being hurt.

Or worse.

"Even death hasn't been a deterrent," said Ashwaubenon Supervisor Corrie Campbell. "We have to have a couple of (police) sweeps, and we have to have more staff out there."

Parks official Matt Kriese said it would cost about $7,000 to hire a part-time ranger for the summer. Adding someone year-round would cost $60,000 to $65,000 in salary and benefits, he said.

Sheriff John Gossage said last month he doesn't have the manpower to devote increased patrols to the park.

dschneid@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @PGDougSchneider