TACOMA, WA – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) rescued a baby river otter this week in southwest Washington, and it is now on its way to recovery.
After its family was hit and killed by a car on Wednesday, a USFWS employee found the hypothermic and dehydrated otter by itself, the agency said. The juvenile was promptly taken by staff to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, where a professional animal rehabilitator works.
The female otter was put under anesthesia by veterinary personnel at the zoo so that she could undergo blood work and a full-body X-ray. According to USFWS veterinary medical officer Christine Parker-Graham, there were no indications of significant trauma throughout the examinations.
Since then, the otter has been relocated to Quilcene, where she is interacting with other otters and eating at the Center Valley Animal Rescue. The animal has a good chance of recovering and eventually being released, according to Parker-Graham.
According to Parker-Graham, she’s doing incredible. She has a fair chance of surviving rehab and being released, in my opinion.