A Vancouver, B.C. marine mammal rescue centre in Vancouver is providing around-the-clock care for a weeks-old otter pup found orphaned and in critical condition outside Tofino, B.C., on Tuesday.
“She was very hungry when she came in and a little bit dehydrated,” said Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society Senior Manager Lindsaye Akhurst.
The society says a member of the public found the otter, which cannot swim, hunt or regulate its body temperature independently.
“She still has that baby coat on her so she isn’t able to dive down into the water yet. She just floats along like a little cork,” Akhurst said.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada transferred the yet-to-be-named pup to rescue staff, who began care almost immediately.
Akhurst says rehabilitating sea otter pups can be labour-intensive, so the centre has one volunteer and one staff member directly treating the pup.
“She’s a baby. Eat, sleep, repeat for her for 24 hours a day,” she said.
Rescue staff say the pup is being bottle fed every two hours and is “readily eating” a specialized formula.
The society says people should never attempt to rescue a distressed marine mammal on their own, and any discoveries should be reported to Fisheries and Oceans Canada or the rescue society.
A 10-day-old baby sea otter was rescued near Kyuquot, Vancouver Island and flown to Vancouver where he is receiving round-the-clock care.