Would you look at that cutie pie! Several months ago; I predicted a shift in America’s hot animal obsession of the moment. When I saw the trailer for Surfs Up, I said to myself, “Penguins have officially jumped the shark”. Funny because I bet they literally did in that movie about a penguin surfing contest. I thought to myself then, that otters, (which I’ve always had a deep fondness for, ever since I was 8 and my uncle bought me a stuffed otter who held a real live clam shell on his belly. His name was Clam) would soon eclipse the clumbsy birds as the new hotness. Now it seems my prediction is gathering steam and a blossoming otter frenzy is afoot.

First this video started making the rounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno

What kind of heartless monster would you have to be to not become verklempt by this?  Listen to the crowd going nuts! C’mon!

Then, the other night I saw a TV spot for the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s new otter exhibit. I bet the other Aquariums of the nation will soon follow suit. They better start ordering their otters PDQ!

Following is my top 5 list of reasons otters are superior to penguins, in every way.

CASE IN POINT!

1. Fur Not Feathers! Otters are mammals for Christ’s sake! With eyelashes! Penguins stink and have poopy bottoms.

2. There’s a much higher possibility that you might actually get a chance to see an Otter in the real world. Otters live among us, in our oceans, rivers and lakes on our very own continent. Penguins are elusive and snobby.

3. The word Otter lends itself to puns quite easily. They are otterly perfect in this respect! I mean, you otter know. Odd you ask? No otter than trying to say penguin five times fast!

4. Otters are the puppies of the sea! They play and romp and lick your face! I bet they would even let you put an outfit on them. How about a little otter swimsuit! ADORABLE!

5. OTTER POPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!