Otter Boy by Mark Gingrich photography by Cliff White Is Jon McRoberts playing when he works or working when he plays? You might ask the same question of river otters. One thing is sure: Jon, who is 17 and attends Rock Bridge High School, has a fun job. He spends most of his time at work in the company of otters. Jon assists Glenn Chambers, Missouri’s most famous otter guy, as he travels around the state giving educational and entertaining presentations about river otters to schools and groups. Although Glenn is a lively speaker and knows more about otters than anyone else, his two otters, Splash and Slide, always steal the show. These two natural “hams” glide through the traveling pool, slide along the floors and generally make themselves lovable to everyone who sees them. Jon’s job is to care for Splash and Slide—no easy matter since otters are naturally aggressive. They may look like they are cuddly and fun, but it would be extremely dangerous for anyone to handle otters without supervision. Jon spent about 30 hours per week with Glenn’s otters over the summer and maintains a weekly minimum of 5 hours of work while balancing his busy high school schedule. Though he works part-time, he is on call practically 24 hours per day, thanks to the pager Glenn uses to reach him. Jon’s job is to feed the otters and clean up after presentations. He also moves Splash and Slide between their two pens and assists Glenn in his programs and films. Otters can’t be considered pets. In fact, Glenn Chambers is the only person in Missouri authorized by the Conservation Department to keep these wild animals. Glenn’s otters were born in captivity and have never been on their own in the wild. Splash and Slide live in large pens that contain several swimming tanks for their enjoyment. These two are likely the most pampered of about 13,000 river otters in Missouri. River otters are semi-aquatic mammals in the Mustelidae family. They have long, slender, streamlined bodies and web feet that allow them to swim with ease at rapid speeds. Otters also move well on land. They could even outrun humans. Thanks to a successful reintroduction effort by the Conservation Department, otters now live in lakes and streams throughout Missouri. Otters are at the top of their food chain in the wild. They feed on fish, crayfish and other small animals. Jon and Glenn feed Splash and Slide a special blend of ground sirloin, shredded carrots, eggs, tomato juice, mink meal and cod liver oil twice daily to provide them with all the nutrients they need to live healthy lives. Otters are so fast and so intelligent that they can capture prey without difficulty. This leaves a lot of time, which otters fill up with play. They wrestle and tumble and run and slide for the fun of it, and they’ll catch prey and release it again and again, just for sport. It’s recess for otters all the time. They may seem innocent enough, but otters play rough. Their sharp teeth can inflict a nasty wound. They also are possessive of food and can become mean as they age or during mating season. Otters communicate through sounds and body language. Because he has spent so much time with Splash and Slide, Jon has learned to interpret their moods, based on their body language and verbal calls. This gives him an edge in avoiding nips or worse from their razor-sharp teeth. Even so, Jon says he’s been bitten lightly a few times. His job of pampering Splash and Slide may have had its roots in 1992 when Jon, then 10 years old, visited Chicago's John G. Shedd Aquarium. He loved the otters he saw there and wanted to learn as much as he could about their behavior and characteristics. His interests in otters and other wildlife grew through years of outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing and hiking. When Glenn Chambers, a friend of his family, offered him a job caring for the otters, Jon jumped at the opportunity. He says the job is not only enjoyable, it’s also given him a chance to learn more about river otters and other animals. As he’s traveled, he’s also met many people who are involved in wildlife. Jon says he’s grateful for this job, and he looks forward to going to work. He says Splash and Slide are unique characters with distinctive personalities. “You never know what they’re going to do next,” he says, “but you can bet they won’t make the same mistake twice.”

Click to Enlarge Not many kids can say they've had an armful of otter. Jon McRoberts often handles a pair of semi-tam otters that travel around the state as part of an instructional wildlife show.     Click to Enlarge Jon and Glenn Chambers set up a traveling tank for the otters to showcase their swimming talents. Glenn has cared for the otters since they were born, but Jon had to earn their earn their trust.       Click to Enlarge Not all otter work is glamorous. Jon's job involves hard labor; he totes and cleans and stands-by to assist during presentations. On the other hand, he often has the pleasure of the otters' company.       Click to Enlarge