Meet Sailor

BY KATE MCCARTHY

Eat, swim, and play. That is a typical day for Sailor, one of the North American river otters at the Seneca Park Zoo.

Sailor is sixteen years old. His exact birthday isn’t known because he was born in the wild, but it is still celebrated at the end of winter. He came to the Seneca Park Zoo when he was six years old in 2012 from Alligator Adventure Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina—a long trip! He and his friend Ashkii are the only otters at the Seneca Park Zoo.

North American river otters are found throughout Canada and the United States along rivers and near streams or lakes that are bordered by woods and wetlands.

Sailor was named in honor of another otter at the zoo who, unfortunately, passed away, called Admiral. He got his name for flipping onto a black rubber tub and paddling it like a boat captain or admiral. The zookeepers decided to continue the ship theme, and that’s how Sailor got his name.

Sailor gets three meals a day—fish for the morning and afternoon and ground meat for his third meal. North American river otters are piscivores. This means they primarily eat fish. They will also eat small mammals, reptiles, birds, and occasionally fruits and vegetables, too. In addition to his three meals, Sailor also gets plenty of snacks and treats. This includes clams, scallops, shrimp, soft-shell crab, squid, and even hard-boiled eggs.

Two important features that help Sailor in his environment are his tail and double-fur coat. The North American river otter’s tail is very strong and muscular and almost a third of its body length! It acts like a rudder on a boat to help propel and steer in the water. Their double coat is made up of guard hairs on the outside that helps the soft undercoat stay dry and warm when they are in the cold water. It also traps air bubbles that you can see when Sailor swims underwater.

Some cool fun facts about these cute mammals are that they can dive up to sixty feet, swim up to twelve miles per hour, and hold their breath for up to four minutes! They also have a wide range of sounds they use to communicate like whistles, yelps, growls, screams, and even body posture; they sometimes stand on their hind legs on land.

The best time to visit Sailor is right when the zoo opens at 10 a.m. This is because North American river otters are crepuscular, which means they are more active at dusk and dawn or right when the sun sets and rises. No matter the time, though, Sailor can’t wait for you to stop by and visit him at the Seneca Park Zoo!

PARENTS:

This article about Sailor is a great way for kids to learn about the North American river otter. Use this article as a base of discussion for your children. Below are some questions and activities for your family.

Q: What kinds of places can you find North American river otters in the wild?

Activity: Search online or at a library to find out the natural habitats of these animals.

Q: What is the purpose of the North American river otter’s double fur coat?

Activity: Do some research and make a list of all the ways these mammals’ double fur coat helps them.

Q: What is the North American river otter’s diet?

Activity: Our article mentions some things that river otters like to eat. Search online or at the library to find other food these cute creatures eat. Can your child draw some of these items?

Q: What kinds of noises do North American river otter’s make?

Activity: Look online for a video of river otters making noises. Make a list of other animals that might make the same sounds. Can your child mimic these sounds?

BY JINELLE VAIANA

Easter Egg Hunts

What would Easter be without egg hunts? Luckily, we won’t need to find out in 2023, as there is no shortage of hunting events this year.

Starting in Batavia, Prairie Path Park’s lower field, behind Rotolo Middle School will host the city’s free Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m. for ages two to eight. Bring a basket and say hello to the Easter Bunny while you’re there. For the local older kids, ages nine to twelve, a hunt will take place at dusk on the Mark Twain Trail on Friday, March 31 at 7:15 p.m. Tweens will bring a flashlight, and whoever finds the golden egg wins a prize! Tickets are $15, and registration is required at bataviaparks.org.

All Aboard The Easter Bunny Train

Celebrate the start of spring with a mileand-a-half round-trip train ride through the grounds of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush. The museum is hosting rides with the Easter Bunny on Saturday, April 8. Train rides will depart every thirty minutes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free cookies, juice and coloring books will be gifted to the kids who attend. There will also be refreshments available for purchase.

After the train ride, kids will enjoy an Easter egg hunt on the grounds, as well as a visit and photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny.

And of course, families will also be able to tour New York State’s largest collection of historic trains. In the past fifty years, the museum has preserved more than forty pieces of historic railroad equipment and built a demonstration railroad. The gift shop inside is stocked with souvenirs for all train lovers.

Tickets are $10–16. Children fouryears-old and younger ride free. rochestertrainrides.com

BRICKUNIVERSE ROCHESTER, A LEGO® FAN EXPO

Build a weekend of family fun on April 22 and 23 with BrickUniverse, a LEGO fan expo, at the Rochester Main Street Armory.

Attendees will enjoy participating in the LEGO building zones, featuring handson activities and the chance for LEGO lovers to display their very own work of art at the event.

“Over the years, BrickUniverse has enjoyed supporting local LEGO communities and showcasing talented artists with a lifelong passion for LEGO bricks. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to help share their amazing works of art and passion with LEGO fans of all ages,” says Angela Beights, event organizer.

Beights has been bringing BrickUniverse to the public for the past nine years, featuring award-winning LEGO artists from around the country. Ethen Teeters, a LEGO artist from Orlando, Florida, will be debuting his gallery of lifesize LEGO mosaics at the two-day event in Rochester.

The Rochester LEGO User Group will also be participating in the event, with more than sixty tables showcasing their impressive LEGO creations. Tickets start at $16.45, and children three years old and younger are free. brickuniverseusa.com

In Canandaigua, the Kiwanis Club will host an egg hunt at the school bus loop at Canandaigua Elementary School (96 W Gibson St, Canandaigua, NY 14424) at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 1. Kids will be on the hunt for 9,000 eggs, and the Easter Bunny will there as well! The event will be wheelchair accessible.

A Day Out With Thomas

Why not two train rides on one list? The Medina Railroad Museum will be hosting a twenty-five-minute train ride with a talking Thomas the Tank Engine on May 20, 21, 27 and 28. In addition to facetime with Thomas, this event includes a meet and greet with Sir Topham Hatt, controller of the railway.

An all-day pass also includes a variety of Thomas & Friends–themed activities including mega blocks, an iPad station, a ride on a Thomas Power Wheels, photo ops, and more. Families will also enjoy bounce houses, live entertainment, a coloring station, lawn games, and more.

Children will receive a digital color pass to track their activities at the event and receive a prize when all are completed.

Train rides depart every forty-five minutes between 9:15 a.m. and 4 p.m. Admission to the Medina Railroad Museum is included with your ticket, where you will find an extensive miniature train layout and additional exhibits.

Tickets start at $22.85. Children under one year old ride free. medinarailroadmuseum.org