Rescue & Rehab Journal

July 12, 2014

April, 20th 2015

A young otter pup was found entangled in a net in Port Moller, AK. As no adults were seen in the area, local volunteers contacted the Alaska SeaLife Center, and with instruction from the ASLC, cared for the pup overnight. The pup flew into Cold Bay and was cared for by a local biologist until it could be placed on a plane to Anchorage. Rehab staff and a veterinarian picked up the pup and brought it down to the Alaska SeaLife Center's rehabilitation facility on 7/14.

July 16, 2014

April, 20th 2015

It's a girl! Vet services gave the pup a full workup today, and can confirm she is a little girl otter. She will be cared for by the rehabilitation staff 24 hours a day until she is able to regulate her metabolism well. She also had some x rays taken today and all appears normal.

July 23, 2014

April, 20th 2015

Lots of progress has been made over the past few days! The little girl is starting to learn how to groom, making very basic efforts whenever staff groom the rest of her coat. She is also only receiving subQ fluids 2 or 3 times a day, and staff are only checking her blood glucose if she seems tired. All of these are great signs that she seems to be stabilizing!

August 2, 2014

April, 20th 2015

Happy Rehab Race Day!! Today runners in Seward and around the country helped raise money to help the ASLC care for and release animals just like the little otter pup, so thank you!

August 4, 2014

April, 20th 2015

The otter has grown up a lot over the past week! She is no longer on antibiotics, she is trying much harder to groom on her own, and she was introduced to clam and ice this week! While she still isn't the best groomer in the world, she love ice, and has started eating the small pieces of clam offered to her at each feed. Go Otter!

August 11, 2014

April, 20th 2015

Over the last week the otter has started to swim for longer periods of time, and now has a small shallow outdoor pool that she loves to swim around in. Today staff introduced squid into her diet, and she is unsure about it, but is eating tiny bits at all her feeds. Staff will watch for increased gas because of the new food item. While she still has some problem areas in her coat, the otter is learning to groom pretty well.

August 25, 2014

April, 20th 2015

Staff are having the otter eat most of her feed in the water, just like an adult otter! She is eating very well, though sometimes it takes her a minute to roll onto her back to the belly up position that is natural for otters to eat in. She has tried a new food this week, and while it's not her favorite, she is eating tiny pieces of a fish called capelin.

September 8, 2014

April, 20th 2015

This was a very busy week for the otter! She moved into her now pool in the I Sea U, the Alaska SeaLife Center's quarantined care center that can be viewed by the public! Come see little girl for yourself at the ASLC through the windows near the touch tank.

November 6, 2014

April, 20th 2015

The otter pup has recently been given a name, Mishka, which means teddy bear in Russian. Mishka continues to grow, is learning some basic behaviors, and is waiting for placement at a zoo or aquarium where she will be able to socialize with other otters and serve as an ambassador for her species. Due to the high level of hands on care required of young otter pups, Mishka likely would not survive in the wild.

January 30, 2015

April, 20th 2015

Mishka has been placed at the Seattle Aquarium!

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