An animal attraction at the Western Idaho Fair near Boise closed and will be replaced with a different attraction after fair officials were made aware that its federal license had expired.
Otter Adventure, which billed itself on Facebook as a “water show that is educational and fun for all ages,” was operating without the necessary license to comply with the Animal Welfare Act, a federal law that regulates the care of exotic animals, according to inspection reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Idaho Statesman reported on the violation Thursday.
Western Idaho Fair Director Bob Batista told the Statesman on Thursday evening that the otter exhibit is now closed and will be replaced with a different attraction.
“While the exhibit met Idaho state requirements, Otter Adventures did not disclose that their USDA license had expired,” Batista said in an email. “Once discovered, Western Idaho Fair made the decision to shut down the exhibit.”
Otter Adventure has held shows daily since the fair opened Aug. 16, according to the fair website’s schedule . It was scheduled to run through the end of the fair on Aug. 25.