Adventurous Oak Bay otter on the mend - update

Update March 25, 2012

After spending almost 2 months in care at the BC SPCA Wild ARC, an adult female otter has fully recovered from severe emaciation and extensive facial injuries. She arrived at the facility on February 2, 2012 after Wild ARC staff received a call from a member of the public who noticed that the otter was very thin and appeared to be missing an eye.

On arrival, she was sedated in order to perform complete physical examination, intravenous fluid therapy, and surgery to clean and suture extensive wounds that she had suffered from a possible fight with another otter. She slowly recovered from the trauma and gained weight consistently with the help of the community who has been very generous and donated frozen fish to feed her, along with other wild animals currently in care.

Two weeks ago, she was transferred to our new aquatic facility where she was able to swim in deep water and regain her strength and fitness. She was also offered live trout to ensure that she did not loose vision in her left eye and could still fish. There were concerns that she may have lost sight due to the injury and the infection she experienced.

After proving that she was fit and able to hunt, it was time for her to get back to her home and family out in the wild. The otter was released in a sheltered cove in the Uplands in Oak Bay, close to where she was found.

Update March 5, 2012
 
The otter has reached her normal body weight of over 12kg and the injuries have healed up completely. She is now ready to be transferred to the facility’s largest pool where she will regain fitness and turn fat into muscle.


Update February 16, 2012
 
The otter has now been in care for 2 weeks. The infection is under control and we can now see the eyeball. There does not appear to have any physical damage to it. There is still some scar tissue and inflammation, but she is recovering very well. She has also gained significant amount of body weight. She is eating well, she is no longer easily approachable and growls at the staff when entering the enclosure. She has been transferred to the facility’s pond facility where she can start exercising in a shallow pooland benefit from more space and natural enrichment.

Original story February 8, 2012

A badly injured otter has undergone surgery and is recovering at Wild ARC, the BC SPCA’s wildlife rehabilitation centre in Metchosin, after being rescued in Oak Bay.

Kari Marks, manager of Wild ARC, says the underweight otter was found with a large laceration over her eye and severe injuries on her cheek, possibly from an animal attack. Marks believes the otter had been injured for at least a week or two before she was rescued.

“We received a call from a resident on Devon Road in Oak Bay, who discovered the animal hiding under her deck,” says Marks. “We took the otter into care and cleaned and disinfected her wounds before closing them up.

She recovered very well from the anaesthetic, and after being given antibiotics and pain medication she got very excited about the great salmon dinner that was waiting for her!” While she isn’t out of danger yet, the otter is eating well and appears to be on the road to recovery.

“We’re continuing to administer medication and are watching her closely,” says Marks.  “As long as she doesn’t get a major infection, we’re hopeful she’ll be well enough to be released back into the wild in a few months.”  Marks adds that while the otter doesn’t appear to have any mobility issues, her approachability is a concern. “Ironically the fact that she is not showing aggression towards us is not a good sign as she will need these protective instincts if she is to survive back in her natural habitat.”

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 Photo caption: A badly injured otter rescued in Oak Bay is recovering at WildARC and will be released once she recovers from her injuries.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.