Alaska SeaLife Center Has Taken in This Tiny Sea Otter Pup

This tiny three-pound pup was found stranded earlier this month, floating alone in an Alaskan bay. A group of fisherman happened upon her first and reported her to the Alaska SeaLife Center; after contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and subsequently receiving permission from them, the Center took her in and is administering care 24 hours a day. She’s a bit of an unusual case, as the Center notes:

When the pup arrived at ASLC, the staff were surprised to see a fleshy umbilical cord, indicating she could be around a day old. It is not unusual for the ASLC to treat very young sea otter pups, but one that could be a day old or less is rare.

“About ten percent of the sea otters admitted to the Center are younger than a week old, but only a few are about a day old,” says Dr. Carrie Goertz, the Center’s Director of Animal Health.

Sources: Alaska SeaLife Center, Peninsula Clarion, KTUU