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.