Meet Splash, America's First Search and Rescue Otter
A trained otter in Florida is solving underwater search cases that stumped investigators for decades. Splash can hold his breath for five minutes and uses his whiskers to sniff out evidence beneath the surface.
When police need to recover evidence from murky lakes and rivers, they've found an unexpected expert: a 2-year-old otter named Splash.
Splash is America's first search and recovery otter, trained by Michael Hadsell of Peace River K9 Search and Rescue in Florida. After 46 years working with search dogs, horses, and drones, Hadsell realized canines couldn't stay underwater long enough for complex missions.
On a flight home from Los Angeles, he read that otters hunt underwater using scent. That article changed everything. "I started thinking, well, if they can work odor underwater, then we can train them," Hadsell told The American Animal Hospital Association.
He visited Mote Marine and Aquarium in Sarasota to watch otter trainers at work. The techniques looked remarkably similar to dog training. Soon, Splash joined the team.
The Asian small-clawed otter trains in Hadsell's home pool, where objects marked with human scent are hidden underwater. Splash sniffs a scented ball, then dives to locate the target. He can hold his breath for five minutes and uses a unique technique: blowing bubbles at targets and breathing them back in to capture odors.
When Splash finds something, he alerts his handlers by grabbing their diving masks. He wears a custom harness and lies directly on top of scent targets so teams can mark precise search areas. His reward for success? Farm-raised salmon only.
Sunny's Take
At just 8 months old, Splash located human DNA on a clay brick at the bottom of a lake, bringing closure to a murder victim's family. He's helped recover a weapon from a 25-year-old cold case and has been called to at least 20 other missions since.
Safety comes first for the little otter. He never dives deeper than 30 feet, and team members wear "Otter Spotter" shirts to watch for alligators and other dangers. If currents are too strong, Splash stays back.
He works alongside the team's search dogs, including his best friend Nova. After long days in the field, Splash comes home for naps and treats, just like any other working animal.
Bodies of water have long been places where evidence and remains go unrecovered, leaving families without answers. Now Splash is changing that, one dive at a time.
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Based on reporting by Good Good Good
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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