CHICAGO — The Shedd Aquarium’s newest rescued sea otter, temporarily known as Otter 937, is about to get a proper name — and Chicagoans have a say in the matter.
Visitors to the Shedd Aquarium, located at 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, can cast their vote through Wednesday to help name the female sea otter, who has been adjusting well since her May 1 arrival.
A California Rescue Finds A Home in Chicago
Originally rescued in June 2022 along a beach in Marina, California, Otter 937 was just two weeks old at the time and separated from her mother due to rough seas. She was deemed “non-releasable” by wildlife authorities because young otters typically spend six months learning survival skills from their mothers.
Thanks to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Surrogacy Program, the pup was stabilized before eventually being transferred to the Shedd Aquarium earlier this spring. Now, after nearly two months in her new home, it’s time for the public to help give her an identity.
Four Finalist Names With Special Meaning
Shedd Aquarium officials have narrowed the potential names to four meaningful options:
-
Esa (EE-sah) – A tribute to the Endangered Species Act, which supports species recovery.
-
Jade – Inspired by Jade’s Cove, a coastal area near Monterey.
-
Marina – Named after the California town where she was rescued, and Latin for “of the sea.”
-
Rey – A nod to the Monterey Bay area and the Sea Otter Surrogacy Program that saved her.
Guests can vote in person near the sea otter habitat during regular aquarium hours. The winning name will be revealed on June 30, according to Shedd representatives.
A Thriving Young Otter Adjusts To Aquarium Life
Otter 937 has been thriving under the care of Shedd’s animal specialists. She’s learning how to forage, dive, and interact with the other otters in her habitat — including Seldovia, a younger male rescue, and Copper, also from Monterey.
“She is very inquisitive, but calm and confident,” said Kayley Galassini, assistant director of public relations at Shedd. “Everybody has a little different bits that make them unique, so those are some things about her people should consider before casting their vote.”
The young otter is already socializing and training with her caretakers — and she’s also made a few public appearances in her exhibit, delighting guests.
“She’s practicing foraging and diving skills, so looking for food in her habitat and diving to the bottom,” Galassini said. “So as people are voting, there’s a chance they may see her.”
Part Of A Larger Conservation Mission
Sea otters, once hunted to the brink of extinction, have made a slow comeback in parts of the Pacific thanks to conservation programs like the one that saved Otter 937. The Shedd Aquarium has long partnered with other rescue centers like Monterey Bay Aquarium to rehabilitate otters and other marine wildlife.
The name campaign isn’t just a fun public gesture — it’s also part of Shedd’s educational outreach to raise awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation, especially for vulnerable marine species.
How To Vote
Where: Shedd Aquarium, near the sea otter exhibit
When: Voting open through Wednesday, June 26
Reveal Date: Winning name announced on June 30
Shedd Aquarium Official Page
Have you visited the Shedd’s sea otter exhibit recently? Share your favorite otter moment — or which name you’re voting for — in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com!
