Gail Collins Doesn't Know Otters From Elephants

Gail Collins Doesn’t Know Otters From Elephants

“Have you ever seen all the House Republicans in one place? It’s like a herd of rabid otters.” So says Gail Collins in today’s op-ed about the challenges president Obama faces following last night’s state of the union address. Gail Collins writes so nicely. But she doesn’t seem to know a lot about animals. There’s no such thing as a “herd” of otters!

Any nerd knows a group of otters is called a “romp” or a “bevy” or a “lodge” or a “family” or a “raft.” I wouldn’t be surprised if some troubled, liberal arts-educated junior editor at the op-ed desk gets mauled by the otters’ cousin, the ferret, over this.

A group of ferrets, incidental internet research tells us, is called a “business” or a “cast.” Yes sir, a “business of ferrets.” After this past year, one might have a thought a “business” referred to a pack of vampire squids. Anyway, because any absolutely any excuse to watch video of otters is good enough, check out the one above. At the end, the rabid Republican romp take on the president, who is played by a crocodile. It’s very exciting.