Meet Splash: The Arizona Otter Transforming Underwater Crime-Fighting

PHOENIX — In an innovative twist on search and rescue operations, a unique otter from Arizona is being trained to detect scents underwater, a skill believed to be exclusive to this species.

While dogs traditionally excel in search and rescue missions, often locating scents from considerable distances, they face limitations in water. Veteran search and rescue diver Mike Hadsell, president of Peace River Search and Rescue, highlighted this challenge: “If a body enters a canal or river, alligators may interfere, making evidence recovery complicated. Dogs assist us at the surface, but they can’t dive to pinpoint the exact location.” This is where otters may play a crucial role.

Hadsell was inspired by research suggesting otters possess the ability to smell underwater. He pondered, “Why can’t we train them to aid in our efforts?” This curiosity has led to promising developments.

Enter Splash, an otter born in Arizona and recently donated to Peace River Search and Rescue. Although still in training, Splash has already made significant contributions. During a recent operation, he accurately detected a scent underwater, enabling divers to recover evidence promptly.

Jeff Beals, the aquarium coordinator at Wildlife World Zoo, revealed that otters not only sense scents while submerged but can also track trails using their acute olfactory skills. “They don’t smell the water; they smell their own breath,” he explained, detailing an intriguing process where otters release and inhale bubbles to analyze their environment.

Hadsell continues to work daily with Splash, hiding scents in a controlled pool setting. The otter consistently retrieves the hidden items, demonstrating his potential as a search and rescue partner.

Within a few months, Hadsell expects Splash to be fully trained, ready to assist divers in locating victims and crucial evidence. Initial skepticism about using an otter in this capacity has diminished as results begin to prove its effectiveness.