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Play With Otters At Barn Hill Preserve Near New Orleans For An Absolutely Adorable Adventure

Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel offers a unique experience with exotic animals, including an otter swim.

Published Jan 25, 2021

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin

That’s right. Pack your swimsuit and gas up the car, because this is one road trip you’ll never forget. Barn Hill Preserve is an incredible little animal sanctuary over in the tiny town of Ethel, about a two-hour drive from the city and trust us, it’s worth it.

Welcome to Barn Hill Preserve.

Entrance to a grassy area with a gravel road, featuring signs for "Briar Hill Preserve" and "Jahaziel Wilderness."
googlemaps.com

Located in East Feliciana Parish, Ethel is about two hours from New Orleans, making it the perfect day trip adventure.

Established in 2012, Barn Hill is home to over 50 species of animals.

A porcupine sniffing a bowl of fresh salad with apples and greens in a natural outdoor setting.
Barn Hill Preserve/Facebook

Dedicated to educating guests about exotic animals through hands-on experiences, this incredible preserve is an animal lover’s paradise.

During your tour, your tour guide will show you all around the property and you’ll get to see all of these animals up close.

A masked instructor holds a lizard while a group of masked students watches from a distance in a wooden pavilion.
Barn Hill Preserve/Facebook

The entire preserve is about seven acres, so be sure to bring some comfortable shoes.

You'll probably see some beautiful birds flying around.

A child and an adult watch colorful parrots perched on a wooden fence in a sunny outdoor setting.
Barn Hill Preserve/Facebook

Barn Hill is home to one of the largest free-flying macaw rescue centers around.

Everywhere you turn, there's a cute little animal.

Two children feeding a sloth through a wooden window, with one child holding a pencil and the other a snack.
Barn Hill Preserve/Facebook

Like this adorable little sloth that's having a tough time deciding which stick to eat!

The otter swim is one of the most magical experiences you'll ever have.

Two women smiling in a pool, one holding an otter on her shoulder, with another otter nearby.
Barn Hill Preserve/Facebook

Combined with the encounter tour, the entire experience will last about three hours.

During your otter swim, you'll have the opportunity to swim with a few of their Asian small-clawed otters.

A man in a pool holds a bowl towards a standing otter, both enjoying a playful moment together.
Barn Hill Preserve/Facebook

The cutest of all otters, in our opinion.

Just try not to smile when you have a bucket of otters in your hand.

A man in a pool smiles while holding a basket with two playful otters.
Barn Hill Preserve/Facebook

I don't know who is happier in this photo, the man or that otter.

Otter swims are available year-round.

A young woman and man play with two otters by a pool, enjoying a sunny day.
Barn Hill Preserve/Facebook

During the colder months, they heat the pool so that both you and your new furry friends can be comfortable.

To book your otter swim, head on over to their website and be sure to give them a follow on Facebook so you can stay up to date on their upcoming events!

Have you ever visited Barn Hill Preserve near New Orleans? Let us know in the comments below!

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