It was William Shakespeare who wrote, “What’s in a name?”

When the name in question is Nola, the name chosen by Maymont fans for the new female otter at The Robins Nature Center, then ‘what’s in a name’ is an homage to her home state — Louisiana. Nola is short for New Orleans, LA.

The three-year old rescued river otter arrived just after Thanksgiving last year and has been getting to know the center’s other resident otter, Louis. The nine-year-old male is a fellow Louisianian rescue who has called Maymont home since 2017. Both had been deemed nuisance predators to crawfish harvesters by local wildlife agencies.

In February, Maymont announced a contest to name the new otter and 165 suggestions were submitted through its Adopt an Animal program, which helps to fund the care of the more than 85 different animal species who live at Maymont, including other rescued animals in the wildlife habitats and The Robins Nature Center, plus the domestic animals at Maymont Farm.

Four names that all had a connection to Louisiana advanced to the March 1 to March 8 public vote. Competition was fierce with more than 11,500 votes cast, but Nola emerged a clear winner garnering 1,300 more votes than the other contenders — Beignet, a popular New Orleans pastry; Evangeline, a parish in Central Louisiana; and Ana, which pairs with Louis to complete the state’s name.

River otters live in wetlands throughout the U.S., including in Virginia. Maymont says Nola and Louis will help illustrate the importance of their species within a healthy James River ecosystem as part of the “Run of the River” experience at The Robins Nature Center.

The facility was renovated and expanded in 2020 to showcase the diverse ecology of the Chesapeake Bay watershed with 30,000 gallons of aquariums filled with fish, amphibians and reptiles, plus a 34-foot climbing sculpture, interactive displays and recreation areas to explore.

More information about visiting Nola, Louis and more than 300 other animals living at Maymont is available online at https://maymont.org/