Two orphaned river otter pups — who were rescued from a ditch and nursed back to health — have been released back into the wild in Central Oregon, local news reported.
An Oregon State Park ranger found the pups in Cove Palisades State Park and swiftly reached out to Think Wild Central Oregon for help. The frail otter pups were then transported to the wildlife center — where staff discovered that the pups were only five or six weeks old. They were dehydrated, lethargic, dirty, and in need of help. The two critters stayed at the wildlife hospital for a month before being transferred to the Wildlife Center of the North Coast for further rehabilitation.
Both organizations took great care to ensure the otters couldn’t recognize their rehabilitators as humans — wearing ghillie suits to camouflage themselves — so that the baby otters didn’t associate humans with food or security. The otters learned what they needed to survive by engaging in enrichment activities, enjoying lots of playtime, and learning how to catch their food. After five months of developing the skills they needed to be independent, they were finally ready to be released into nature.
“Their ‘soft release’ included a carefully selected habitat, a temporary den, and specialized feeding methods to support their transition to independence,” Think Wild Central Oregon wrote on Facebook. “Now, these two otter pups are back where they belong – exploring their new river home!”
A trail camera shows the adorable otters flourishing as they explore their new home, catch prey, and swim.
Lady Freethinker applauds Think Wild Central Oregon and the Wildlife Center of the North Coast for working together to rehabilitate these otters to return to the wild where they belong. Thanks to the caring individuals at these organizations, the pups learned what they needed to thrive on their own.
