Otter News Archive

Otter Sculpture Stolen in Corvallis Has Been Returned

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26th March 2010

ZEZI News, Eugene, Oregon, USA

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- The missing river otter from the Willamette Riverfront area was returned on Friday morning. The otter was found in a garbage bag, along with a note, on the Corvallis Parks and Recreation Department's doorstep.

Police are holding the note as evidence.

The Parks and Recreation Director Karen Emery says, in the note, the otter's captor suggested they name the otter "Samson."

The Center first noticed that the bronze sculpture was missing earlier this week.

"It has a higher value in the public realm than it does in somebody's house," said Assistant Director Stephen DeGhetto.

Police initially thought it'd be plausible that a vandal stole it to sell to a metal recycler. But the sculpture had more value as a work of art than in a sale or recycling business.

"I'd be surprised if it's worth more than twenty or thirty dollars at a metal recycling place where it would eventually melted back down and used for something else," said Lieutenant Tim Brewer.

Police put metal recyclers on alert in case the river otter would've showed up there.

For now, Emery says she is happy to have the otter back in place, since they city may not have been able to purchase another sculpture at this point. The City of Corvallis is trying to trim about $2 million from its budget, and the Parks and Recreation department is included in that downsizing.