Did you know that otters are believed to be the only mammals that can detect scents underwater?
While dogs are commonly used in search and rescue missions for their keen sense of smell on land, one Arizona otter is breaking new ground by being trained to sniff out evidence and victims in underwater settings.
Mike Hadsell, a veteran search and rescue diver and president of Peace River Search and Rescue, highlighted the otter’s unique abilities, stating that they can guide divers to remains that may be difficult to locate otherwise.
Not only can otters smell underwater, but they can also act on those scents effectively. Splash, an otter born in Arizona and now with Peace River Search and Rescue in Florida, is already proving to be a valuable asset in solving crimes.
With otters using a bubble technique to smell the water and their breath, Hadsell is confident in Splash’s training progress. In the coming months, Splash is expected to be fully trained to assist divers in locating victims and evidence with precision.
The idea of a search and rescue otter may have once seemed far-fetched, but the success and capabilities of otters in this role are proving skeptics wrong.
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