A young otter pup lay unresponsive on a dock in Alert Bay, British Columbia, with fishing netting wrapped tightly around their neck. A nearby resident cut the pup free, began CPR, and got the tiny animal breathing again.
The rescue began July 28, when residents heard animals in distress at the ‘Namgis Dock on Cormorant Island. They found three juvenile otters tangled in sections of fishing net left on the dock, according to the Alert Bay detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Two pups were freed quickly and swam back to their mother. The third was not breathing.
The resident’s quick thinking gave the pup a fighting chance. After they managed to revive the little one, police officers contacted a local wildlife rescue volunteer. The volunteer worked with Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society to arrange transport to a rehabilitation facility.
Several days later, the pup had fully recovered. Responders brought the young otter back to Alert Bay, where they were finally reunited with their family and safely returned to the wild.
Lady Freethinker is deeply grateful to everyone whose compassion, quick thinking, and care helped save the pup and reunite the young otter with their family.
Together, we can make a life-saving difference by protecting wild animals from preventable harm. Clearing abandoned materials from docks, beaches, and shorelines helps create safer spaces for wild animals.
For another joyful wildlife reunion, read about a fawn reunited with their mother after firefighters rescued the little one from a rooftop.
