After a day of spirited debate and enthusiastic voting at NatureFest on June 7, the North American river otter emerged as the winner of the inaugural Acorn Cup. Photo courtesy of Effie Yeaw Nature Center

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - After a day of spirited debate and enthusiastic voting at NatureFest on June 7, the North American river otter emerged as the winner of the inaugural Acorn Cup.

Introduced as part of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center's 50 Years of Wonder celebration, the Acorn Cup invited NatureFest attendees to vote for their favorite species found in the Effie Yeaw Nature Study Area. The field included 50 contenders representing the remarkable diversity of the American River Parkway — from mammals, birds, reptiles and insects to plants, fungi and even lichens.

More than 1,000 people attended NatureFest, and visitors of all ages weighed in on the question: Who rules the Nature Center?

When the votes were tallied, the playful North American river otter splashed its way to the top.

The final standings were the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) in first place, bobcat (Lynx rufus) in second place, great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) in third place, California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) in fourth place and the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) in fifth place.

The winning otter is known for its playful behavior and acrobatic swimming, gliding through rivers while diving, splashing and exploring the waterways of the American River Parkway. The bobcat mounted a strong challenge with support from fans of the Nature Center's most elusive resident, while the great horned owl demonstrated that nighttime hunters have plenty of admirers.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the California kingsnake.

“I expected the river otter, bobcat and owl to be strong contenders, but I was genuinely surprised by how well the kingsnake did,” said Rachael Cowan, interim executive director of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. “It turns out a lot of people have a soft spot for one of the Parkway's most beautiful and misunderstood animals.”

The Acorn Cup quickly became one of NatureFest's most popular activities, with families gathering around the voting board to champion favorite species.

“One of the things we love most about the Nature Center is that everyone connects with nature differently,” Cowan said. “Some people are drawn to river otters, some love butterflies, and others are passionate about snakes, fungi, or native plants. The Acorn Cup gave people a fun way to celebrate the incredible diversity of life found right here along the American River.”

NatureFest is the Nature Center's largest annual community event and celebrates nature, conservation, and environmental education. The inaugural Acorn Cup was created as part of the Nature Center's 50th anniversary celebration, honoring five decades of inspiring curiosity, connection, discovery and stewardship.

While spotting all 50 contenders may require patience — and a bit of luck — visitors can discover many of them in the Nature Study Area or learn more about them through the Nature Center's exhibits, programs and trails. Whether you're rooting for the champion river otter, the runner-up bobcat, or the surprise kingsnake, there's always something new to discover at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center.

 Learn more about visiting at https://www.effieyeawnature.org/.