Otterly Gorgeous
Our first cub… we lost him. So heartbreaking.
With all the surplus water around Wiltshire, I knew it wouldn't be long before we had our first Otter Cub. The first call out was reported by a very kind dog walker, who spotted the cub alone in a flooded meadow, cubs do get separated by flooding and fast flowing water. Unfortunately, it had already been attacked by a dog. The cub was very subdued, and he didn't want to leave it, so he wrapped it up in his coat and telephoned ourselves.
While with the gentleman, it had warmed up and was feeling a little better, so when I called, it was necessary to transfer to my carrier, he was very feisty, lunging at me, not unlike a snake in movement, as he wriggled and squirmed his way out of the blanket, several times!
Back at the hospital, on examination, there was no blood, or wounds to be seen so after a discussion with Dave at the UK Otter Trust, who was happy with his weight and care, we made a plan for a meet up the next day. Leaving him comfortable with some trout, which he was devouring when I left, I felt we had given him everything he needed.
Sadly, to my absolute distress, he passed away over night. Straight on the telephone to Dave with so many questions. Dave explained Otters can be very difficult to 'read', they mask 'pain' very well as he continued to relay stories of Otters in his care, who had passed away, the way our first 2023 Otter Cub did....It still makes you question everything you did, with so many 'what if's'.
Tucking into their fish supper.
Then.....a call for another TWO otter cubs, seen on a busy 'through' road on Saturday evening alone and in danger of being injured. They disappeared, but a quick thinking member of the public went looking for them at first light, luckily they were found huddled together against a grassy clump. Sam very kindly took them home to warm through. One was quiet, but the stronger one still did the 'Snake Lunge' which made me jump out of my skin several times!
A call to Dave and a plan was made, this time we were to keep them for 48hrs, I was a little apprehensive, but desperate for their survival.
We were out of fish, so a look in our useful phone contacts, led to some very fresh fish being collected. Back at WWH, looking over them and attempting to weigh them, we were able to determine they were very dehydrated, so we coaxed them into taking some oral rehydration fluid, then a very small meal, and another before bed.
They both perked up so well over night, they almost spilled out of their door to receive their breakfast...phew! A further three small meals for that day, was in order. They were given an early feed on Tuesday morning, still all ok...
Cleaned and fed they were loaded up 7.30am then off to meet Dave's assistant and long time friend of Mike and I Colin Seddon (retired manager SSPCA Scotland) who was transporting one other cub down to Devon. Our two and Colin's one would make 19 Otter Cubs taken in by UK Wild Otter Trust this year.
Otters take specialist and dedicated care to rehabilitate.
Members of the public love Otters, because they have the 'ahh' factor, but there is a huge amount of work that goes into caring and rehabilitating Otters. Although looking after them for a short while is an incredible experience, WWH doesn't have the facilities long term and would prefer to take guidance from Dave and Colin at UK Wild Otter Trust.
Please support them if you can.
If you would like to help us care for wild animals like these otter cubs, please do send us a donation. We rely totally on volunteer support and public donations to keep the hospital running and providing the vital service that we do for our local wildlife. Anything you can offer will help.
Thank you so much.