WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- It's been eight months, but the otters at the Thompson Park Zoo in Watertown are back home and ready for people.
The zoo put the otters back in their permanent home Monday morning for public viewing.
Last year, Otis and Ricky were taken to the Wild Center in Tupper Lake while their home was repaired and transformed to a year-round exhibit.
The zoo got about $45,000 in donations from local companies and people for water filtration and fencing. That doesn't include the donated labor.
There were also several other repairs, including new concrete with a snow melting system.
"It is phenomenal to be quite honest. We did an introduction with them yesterday, just a few times throughout the day under vet supervision, they did extremely well and it was determined that they were ready for viewing," Zoo director of operations Lesley Clark said.
The otters actually returned to the zoo a few weeks ago, but the zoo needed to give them time to get adjusted to their new home before allowing the public to view them.