Oregon Zoo Gives Rescued Sea Otter Pup a Forever Home

This male sea otter pup, temporarily named pup 805, was rescued from Morro Bay, CA this fall before he was even two weeks old. He was taken to Monterey Bay Aquarium, where staff attempted to pair him with a surrogate mother to train him for release back to the wild. Unfortunately, it didn't work and little 805 was deemed non-releasable. Oregon Zoo writes:

"We needed to locate a zoo or aquarium that could take him in," said Andrew Johnson, Monterey Bay Aquarium's conservation research operations manager. "Fortunately, the Oregon Zoo was able to provide him with a permanent home."

No. 805 is currently estimated to be about 2 months old, and weighs around 14 pounds.

"When they're young they float like corks, but he's learning to dive now and loves showing off," said Oregon Zoo marine life keeper Sara Morgan, who traveled to Monterey last week to meet the pup and help prepare for his trip north. "He's full of spunk, very squeaky and fun to be around. He also takes a lot of naps — that's when he's at his fluffiest."

Caregivers say the young otter has started grooming himself though he still needs some help, and he is enjoying his seafood diet — both good signs that he's settling in well.

"Right now he definitely has a preference for shrimp," Morgan said. "He seemed insulted when I tried to offer him squid."

Shrimp all day every day for little 805, then! Read more at the Oregon Zoo's post here.