Otters & Cannabis

Why is there an otter on your cannabis package? Well, they’re more than just cute animals, they’re an integral part of the ecosystem at Whitethorn Valley Farm. With every cultivar, we will be highlighting an animal who makes a contribution to the ecosystem in which our cannabis grows.

Before European colonization, North American River Otter populations were found in areas with an abundance and diversity of aquatic habitats, such as coastal marshes, the Great Lakes region, and glaciated areas of New England. However, westward expansion and industrial activity have decimated the river otter’s populations and their beneficial contributions to river and waterway ecosystems in the forest and the greater biosphere.

River otters are semiaquatic and live in dens made on waterways. Their presence both on land and in the water play an important part in bringing rich aquatic nutrients to the forest floor and re-nitrifying soil in the ecosystem. Like bears and other carnivores who fish in the riverways, otters bring their meals to land to eat, especially with a larger catch, thus bringing vital nutrients to the forest that would otherwise be confined to waterways.

Our goal in highlighting the fauna of our ecosystem is to bring more awareness to the web of life we reside in. Through understanding and awareness we can cultivate more appreciation along with the cultivars we know and love.