Otter, MT, in SW PR County, was an apt site for the release of the US Postal Service's "Otters in Snow" stamps, on Tuesday in a snowstorm. Picture left to right: Smokey the Bear, Ron Hecker, Josie Goggin and Jay Bigalke (Photo courtesy Josie Goggin/USPS)
OTTER, MT - The U.S. Postal Service issued Playful Otters in Snow stamp Tuesday at the Otter, Montana Post Office. The Forever stamps are now for sale at Post Offices nationwide. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #PlayfulOtters and #OttersInSnow.
It was a fittingly snowy afternoon at the Otter, MT Post Office as the Otters in Snow stamp was unveiled. With at least 10 inches of snow on the ground the dozen or so Otter, MT residents in attendance were otterly amazing!
Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with artwork from illustrator John Burgoyne. The Otters in Snow stamps are being issued as Forever® stamps. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce rate.
Smokey the Bear and District Ranger Ron Hecker from the Ashland Forest District – along with Postmaster Josie Goggin unveiled the Playful Otters in Snow Forever Stamp.
"The month of October is celebrated as National Stamp Collecting month," said Jay Bigalke, editor-in-chief of Linn's Stamp News who acted as the emcee of the event. "It is fitting this event takes place during this month in such a cool place....literally."
"On behalf of the 644,000 dedicated men and women of the United States Postal Service, I'm honored to welcome you - to Otter, Montana's first live stamp event!" said Otter Postmaster Josie Goggin.
"I was recently looking over some of the stamps that the U.S. Postal Service has issued and realized that the U.S. Forest Service and the Post Office have a lot in common," said Ron Hecker. "I'm starting to think that the Postal Service loves nature as much as we do."
Background
The playful North American river otter revels in winter's white landscape. A denizen of riparian areas throughout most of the United States and Canada, this elegantly long and sleek mammal (Lontra canadensis) is designed for life in and around the water, whatever the season. Besides webbed feet, it has a muscular tail, about 40 percent of its entire body length, that powers it in swimming and diving.
Otters may look a bit awkward when walking, but they are nothing but graceful as they twist and loop through the water, slide down snowbanks, or frolic in the fluffy white stuff.
When otters glide across ice to get to an opening and dive into the water below, it is because they depend on river creatures for their winter diet. We may shiver at the thought, but their dense double-layered coats insulate them against the winter cold and keep them from freezing.
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