Three otter pups who were injured and orphaned from across the island last year are now ready for release, says Victoria SPCA shelter, Wild ARC.
In June 2018, the first of the otters was rescued, but needed companionship for healthy development. According to Wild ARC, otters are very social animals, and this pup was in need of some company.
Just when the shelter was going to transfer her to a facility that had other otters, a new pup was brought in with injuries.
“Though we never wish for any animal to have need to come through our doors, we were grateful that this injured, orphaned male otter was found and could provide companionship for the female,” said Wild ARC in an update.
The last otter, another girl, was found under a downtown Victoria building with severe wounds all over her body, and was very thin. Caretakers rushed her to Wild ARC, where she recovered in isolation until she was strong enough to join the other two.
Once the otters were living in the same enclosure, the trio “quickly bonded” and spent the island’s snowy winter together at Wild ARC.
See also: Watch this group of otters play near downtown Victoria (VIDEOS)
The shelter says that all three otters are now healthy and strong, and will be released to the wild this Spring.
“So on release day it is bittersweet,” said Marguerite Sans, seniors wildlife rehabilitator in an educational video.
“Definitely I’m super happy and all the rehabers are happy but we’re also a little nervous,” she said. “We know we’ve done everything we can to prepare them for the wild but we are a little sad to see them go.”
“But ultimately one of the happiest days is to do a release.”
Happy trails, little otters!
