By james art 
COLLEL, W.VA. – From high among the peaks of the large flat Upper Mountain in southern West Virginia, there is a stream that bears a unique name – Gooney otter Creek. But what is “gooney otter?”
The strange name does not appear anywhere else in the world, but a well -known wildlife biologist may have an answer.
Jim Reed, who is now retiring from the W.VA natural resources department, studied habitat in the mountain state and invented an answer that, in his opinion, explains the origin of the name.
“During several studies on the stream of Barkers Creek and Gooney Otter Creek, I watched a few minks along the streams – even during the daytime hours,” Reed said.
“I theoretized that Gooney Otter may have acquired his name from early settlers, watching a mink, a smaller cousin of a much larger otter along the stream. It’s not really a mink, it’s Gooney otter. ”
At that time, Reed was the biologist of the fishing area, responsible for eight counties in southeastern Western Virginia, watching a trout warehouse to determine the pace of survival and growth.
Gooney otter and Barkers Creek and other upper tributaries of the Guyandotte are created as fishing trout flows for catching and release.
Reed says he can see why early settlers would consider Nink to be the Gooney Version of the Otter, “Gooney” is a jarming word for a stupid, stupid or uncomfortable person or something.
Because Nink and Otters are in the same family (Mustelidae), they look a lot like each other, RED says. To say these two types, size is the most important factor. Vitts are large, almost four feet long, while the MINK is significantly smaller, less than two feet in length.
“Probably the early settlers saw numerous small stupid acting minks jumping on the rocks of this creek and announced that there was a GOoney otter,” he said.
“The much bigger otter is very graceful. Its dives and twists and rollers are views to see in a large pool of water. While exploring the Meadow River near the Naleen County, I watched a crow swim and dive and perform a beautiful act, Who was just such a view.
“In contrast, I watched numerous small minks entering and out of rocks and ruins along the Gooney Otter Creek in Wayoming County near Bud. As Paul Harvey says,” You know the rest of the story now! “
The origin of the name “Pickle Street” remains the central mystery of W.VA.
Pickle Street, W.VA. – Of all the strange community names in Western Virginia, Pickle Street should be ranked among the most harsh. Why this Hamlet in Lewis County is named “PIPZER” is as a mystery as why it is called “street”. Read the full Pickle Street story here.
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