Wildlife Hospital Finds Itself Otter This World With 7 Rescue Pups
The days are “otterly” delightful at Florida Wildlife Hospital now that seven river otter pups have settled in as patients. Staff at the Palm Shores nonprofit have their hands full with the inquisitive and voracious orphans whose appetite for life is only surpassed by their appetite for fish.
An otter, much less seven, are not routine patients at the hospital that cares for more than 5,000 injured or orphaned animals, birds and reptiles each year. Staff keep the facility open 365 days a year, without ever charging a cent. So, it’s a good thing otters are rare patients given the cost and length of caring for them. The average length of stay for other animals at the hospital is nine weeks, with an average cost of care per animal of $130. Otters are in a different league altogether.
“For otters, the cost is closer to $4,000 per animal,” said Executive Director Tracy Frampton. “Some animals are treated and released in a matter of weeks, while some must stay up to six months. In the case of these otters, it may be even longer.”
Because of high metabolism, otters eat a lot. They also have a predilection for seafood. As they get older, the hospital will need to buy live fish and fiddler and blue crabs to mimic the animals’ diet in the wild.
“Fish and seafood are expensive,” Frampton said.
The pups did not arrive en masse, but rather trickled in beginning Dec. 22, when a sibling trio was admitted after their mother had succumbed to a car. The sister died, but the two remaining boys are hearty. On Feb. 5, they were joined by another male that had been found floating and barely responsive in the St. Johns River. He had a serious case of fleas, plus an ectoparasite. After isolation for treatment, Boy Three got together with Bos One and Boy Two — a good thing for everyone.
“Otters have a much better chance of being released if they are raised with conspecifics, meaning animals from their own species,” Frampton added. “They learn from each other and they are less likely to bond with their caregivers. It is a lot of trial and error, watching each other and playing.”
Preventing bonding with humans is critical for their success as wild creatures.
“Our goal for all our patients is getting them back in the wild where they belong,” Frampton said. “Otters habituate to humans easily and we want them to stay wild, so volunteers do not interact with them. Anyone caring for them must be rabies vaccinated because they can carry rabies. We really try to limit contact with humans, so they stay wild.”
Nevertheless, humans do need to step in to educate the orphans. A large tub serves as a classroom for many survival lessons.
“While ‘river’ is in their name, pups need to be introduced to the water and taught how to swim,” said veterinary technician and otter caregiver Corey Mullen. “Mother otters will dunk their babies to get them started, but we use a more gradual method by increasing the water depth as they get more comfortable in the tub.”
Pups first paddle with their front paws, hind end trailing tails slapping the water's surface uncoordinatedly.
“As they got stronger and more curious, they put their heads under the water and started to blow bubbles,” Mullen said. “This was a major milestone, holding their breath would soon follow.”
The hospital also offers natural enrichment using objects like pinecones and rocks for the pups to play with. A large tube entices them to practice swimming through it and hone “zoomies.” In the past months, they have mastered “catching” frozen fish in the tub.
Two more orphans joined the pack March 5. The male and female are behaviorally ahead of the other three, but behind in weight. Before being introduced to the first three, they will be housed separately until hospital staff ascertain they are not carrying any diseases.
The first girl in the crowd of furry little dudes is already making sure her voice is being heard.
“The female is very vocal and has lots of opinions,” Frampton said.
The otter population boom at the hospital continued when a male arrived from Eau Gallie Veterinary Clinic on March 21 with severe facial wounds. He had surgery at Florida Wildlife Hospital on March 26 to clean and repair wounds and is recovering well.
Another girl otter joined the crowd, too. She was a bit underweight, in rough shape and presumed orphaned, but she is eating well and getting stronger.
“If they continue to improve, both of these otters will move outside with the other five as soon as they are done will quarantine and healed from surgery,” Frampton said.
If all goes well, the pups will be released to the wild — in an undisclosed location — when they’re about 8 months old. Estimates are that the pups were 7 weeks old or so when they arrived at the hospital.
It will be a bittersweet day for Mullen has to say goodbye to her charges.
“It’s been such a joy to watch them grow and get more confidence as they hit their milestones,” she said.
While the baby otters have found their champion in the hospital, the hospital could use champions to help with the expenses of caring for the otters and the many other critters under their wing. The 51-year-old nonprofit, which receives no government funding, depends entirely on support from the community.
Community members can help Florida Wildlife Hospital keep wildlife healthy and wild by becoming a monthly supporter, donating cash or supplies from the hospital’s Amazon wish list, adopting an Ambassador Animal or leaving an estate gift. Volunteers also are always welcome.
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Florida Wildlife Hospital
4560 N. U.S. Highway 1, Palm Shores
321-254-8843
floridawildlifehospital.org
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