Page 22 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - December '23

Page 22, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Northern Notes

“Otterly” Amazing Otters

By Katie Roundtree,
Director of Finance and
Administration, Northern
Palm Beach County
Improvement District
River otters are mainly
found in freshwater ponds,
streams, canals, and
marshes everywhere in
Florida, except the Keys.
These charismatic mammals five babies. Baby otters, called pups or kits, stay with their otters can occasionally create a nuisance by eating fish
are a member of the weasel mothers until they’re up to a year old or until she has another in hatcheries and stocked ponds or digging dens in pond
family and are comfortable both in and out of the water. litter. Babies learn to swim when they are about 2 months banks. Keep stocked ponds covered or fenced to prevent
Otters grow to about 40 inches, weighing between 10 to 30 old when their mother introduces them to the water. Otters otters from entering ponds.
pounds. They have short legs, elongated bodies, webbed feet are natural swimmers and learn to swim quickly. Enjoy these native animals from afar. They are fun to
and a strong, flattened tail, which acts like a rudder in the Active mainly at night, otters are excellent hunters. watch and known for their antics in and around the water.
water. Their nostrils and ears close to keep water out, and Their diet consists primarily of fish, amphibians, insects However, please do not approach them or try to pet them.
waterproof fur keeps them warm. Otters have the densest and crustaceans. Their powerful teeth and jaws are made They are far more likely to avoid humans than confront them.
coat of any animal – as many as a million hairs per square for catching and gripping onto slippery fish. An otter’s bite Otters are apex predators and are wild creatures – cute but
inch in places. Because of this, otters were once hunted to is approximately 615 pounds per square inch compared certainly not cuddly.
near extinction for their fur. Their colors range from light to the average person’s bite force of around 162 pounds NPDES tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet
brown to dark, rich brown. They are strong swimmers and per square inch. Their bite is comparable to a German waste is washed into lakes or canals the waste decays, using
can swim about 6 to 8 miles per hour, holding their breath Shepherd’s bite! River otters can easily chew through the up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia. Low oxygen
for up to eight minutes. On land, however, they can run up tough skin of armored catfish found in our area and eat levels and ammonia combined with warm temperatures can
to 15 miles per hour. the flesh underneath. kill fish and disrupt the natural food chain. Pet waste also
Otters spend much time on land, often traveling As cute as they are, otters are wild animals and should contains nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth.
considerable distances between waterways. Most otters have be left alone. Please do not feed them and give them their Perhaps most importantly, pet waste carries diseases which
at least one permanent burrow (den) by water. The burrow’s space. They can be feisty and attack if threatened. River make water unsafe.
main entrance may be underwater. It then slopes upward to
a nest chamber above the high-water level. The burrows are “Service is our number one priority”
built in the bank of a water body, often under tree roots. They
dig their own burrow or repurpose an abandoned beaver den. 561-743-0070
Otters give birth in early spring to anywhere from one to
www.palmspoolservices.com
Stop Yelling At

Your Kids

By Jim Forgan, Ph.D.,
School Psychologist
“Here we go again,
mom’s rocket launcher
went off and she’s yelling
at me.” This statement
captures how kids I work
with often describe how Expires 1/15/24.
their mom or dad deals
with them when they are State Licensed & Insured
not acting right. “Yelling Serving Palm Beach County CPC # 1457468 • LPG#30099
is the only way I can get
him to listen and behave,” is a common parent response.
All agree, yelling does not contribute to a peaceful home.
Yes, at times we parents must raise our voices
and make it stern and serious. But yelling, shouting,
screaming, and threatening is parenting by instilling
fear into your child. Unfortunately, fear and intimidation
don’t produce lasting behavioral changes. Sure, your
child might behave when you’re around but leave
them with relatives or a sitter and prepare yourself for
a bad report. When you yell at your child to get him to
do what you want, he is learning that’s how he should
treat his peers or friends when he encounters someone
who doesn’t do what he wants. You are the example he
looks to for learning how to interact with others.
Do you yell at your child when he asks you to read
an unknown word from his homework? No, you teach
him how to pronounce the word. Try to maintain this
teaching mindset when it comes to his behavior. Keep
teaching him over and over how to behave appropriately.
Perhaps ask him questions instead of yelling
commands. “Are you being helpful? Is this good for the
family? What will happen if you don’t stop?” People
often tune out yelling, but a question has an implied
response requirement. Being asked a question requires
reflection and thought, and this helps your child’s mind
to shift and transition. Parenting requires us to modify
our behavior just like modifying our child’s behavior
so keep learning and practicing.
Maybe you’ve thought, “Why does he act like
that? Maybe there is something wrong with him. Is
he ADHD or maybe autistic?” Our testing process
provides information to help answer your questions.
Call to discuss your child as we test for autism,
dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, depression, learning
disabilities, and anxiety. Visit JimForgan.com or call
(561) 625-4125.