Pardon my take

Mote Otters Make Super Bowl Picks

Huck, Pippi and Jane offer their takes on who's going to win Super Bowl LIV this Sunday.

By Allison Forsyth January 28, 2020

Huck and Pippi show off their tricks. 

Make your bets accordingly: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's otters predicted the winner of Super Bowl LIV Tuesday morning in an adorable ceremony.

North American river otters Huck, Pippi and Jane showed off their target training skills in a series of tricks that led them to two logos posted on their habitat's glass, one for the San Francisco 49ers and one for the Kansas City Chiefs. In a 2-1 vote carried by Huck and Pippi, the otters decided that the 49ers will win this year's Super Bowl, which takes place this Sunday, Feb. 2.

The otters were called one at a time to the top of the habitat, where they received treats and special instruction from trainers. Each slid down a rock formation into the water and pawed at their logo of choice. Trainers praised Huck, Pippi and Jane and then threw a few footballs into the habitat so the otters could play.

Target training at Mote's Marine Mammal Research & Rehabilitation Center.

This year is the first that Mote's otters have offered their hot takes on the Super Bowl outcome. For 12 years, the aquarium's manatees have been making Super Bowl predictions, but they were unavailable this year due to habitat reconstruction. Huck, Pippi and Jane all turn 5 years old in April, and are unrelated orphans rescued by Mote's staff. However, do they have a future as sports commentators? Tune in Sunday to find out.

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