In June and July 2024, two orphaned otter pups were rescued just weeks apart after losing their mothers too soon. They were brought to the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC)—the only wildlife rehab facility on southern Vancouver Island. Wild ARC treats over 2,000 wild animals each year, helping them recover and return to their natural habitats.
Keeping wild animals wild is Wild ARC’s top priority. Even during hands-on care, staff minimize human interaction by wearing gowns, gloves, boots, masks, and full face visors. To give these otters the best shot at surviving in their natural habitat, the Wild ARC team worked hard to ensure they didn’t associate humans with food or safety. Instead, the two pups bonded with each other—playing, snuggling, and learning how to be wild together.
When they first arrived, both pups were so young they needed to be bottle-fed a specialized otter formula four times a day. By their third week in care, they were feeding themselves a variety of fish, swimming in their own pool, and exploring an upgraded enclosure designed to offer them plenty of enrichment opportunities that would keep their wild instincts at play. Once they were self-feeding, human interaction was minimized even further.
Since young otters normally stay with their families through winter, these two remained at Wild ARC during the colder months to safely practice hunting and build essential survival skills in a controlled environment. Their recent release was a big success, with both otters confidently swimming off to explore their new home in the wild!
