I Mean, Just Look at This Face

This little one is a recent rescue, found abandoned on the side of a road in Alaska and ultimately taken to the Alaska SeaLife Center, where she is receiving round-the-clock care. The ASLC writes:

The otter pup was found stranded on a road in Kenai, Alaska, over 5 miles up the Kenai River from the ocean. The original spotter believed the otter was a cat, but called the police when they discovered it was a young otter. Officials worked with the ASLC as the pup was moved away from the dangerous road, which was about half a mile away from the river.

The female pup was estimated to be around three months old, and her mother was not found in the vicinity. ASLC staff knew she needed help and received permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to bring her back to the ASLC for rehabilitation. 

The main concerns found by the ASLC veterinary team upon the initial admit exam were dehydration and malnourishment. The pup’s blood glucose levels were low, and her feces indicated she had been stressed and had not eaten in a while. The team is currently providing stabilizing treatments and examining the patient further to understand the severity of her condition.

Northern sea otter mothers invest a lot of maternal care into their pups and will not leave their pups unaccompanied except to dive for food. Mothers provide almost constant care until the pup weans between three to six months of age. When a sea otter pup is admitted as a patient to the ASLC Wildlife Response Program, it requires 24/7 care from our team. 

“Young otter pups like this one need constant care and attention. At this age, they are transitioning from their pup coat to their adult coat and also being weaned. They need assistance grooming and monitoring their nutrition during this critical time. That is why sea otter pups require 24/7 care from ASLC staff until they are about six months of age,” said Wildlife Response Curator Jane Belovarac.