Sat Mar 29 07:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Monterey Bay Aquarium Seeks Public’s Help Naming Newest Sea Otter
**Monterey, CA** – The Monterey Bay Aquarium is inviting the public to participate in naming its newest resident sea otter. A three-week-old pup, found stranded near San Luis Obispo in February 2024, has been undergoing rehabilitation at the aquarium and will soon join the existing otter exhibit. After being deemed unreleasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the otter has spent the past year receiving care behind the scenes.
Aquarium staff have narrowed the name selection down to three options: Hazel, Opal, and Quinn. Each name reflects aspects of the otter’s personality, according to Mammalogist Sarah Pryce. Hazel represents wisdom, Opal embodies playfulness, and Quinn signifies the otter’s confident and assertive nature.
A 24-hour online poll will be held to determine the winning name, starting Wednesday, March 26th at 12 p.m. PDT and concluding Thursday, March 27th at 12 p.m. PDT. The poll will be accessible via the aquarium’s website and social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook).
The aquarium’s Sea Otter Program, operating for over 40 years, plays a vital role in sea otter conservation, including rescue, rehabilitation, and research. Recently completed upgrades to the Sea Otter Conservation Center, funded by individual donors and the State of California’s Ocean Protection Council, have expanded the program’s capacity. The program’s scientists are currently monitoring the impact of recent Moss Landing battery fires on the Elkhorn Slough sea otter population.
First Piper 