Quatse the sea otter pup is recovering in Vancouver thanks to the quick action of some North Island residents.
The pup was found abandoned on a beach in Port Hardy on Sunday morning by local residents, who quickly reported her to area marine researcher Jackie (the Marine Detective) Hildering, as well as the B.C. Marine Mammal Reporting Network hotline.
At around 3:30 p.m., Alyssa Berube (who has done numerous animal rescues in the North Island) received a phone call from Hildering, asking if she could pass BerubeB次元官网网址檚 contact information on to Lindsaye Akhurst, manager of the Vancouver AquariumB次元官网网址檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.
B次元官网网址淟indsaye from MMR phoned me right away and instructed me to go meet the DFO officer down at the waterfront,B次元官网网址� Berube said. B次元官网网址淚 arrived on scene to find DFO standing out where the tide was low, beside a sleeping otter pup.B次元官网网址�
BerubeB次元官网网址檚 husband, Patrick, hauled a large crate down to the beach, while she draped a blanket over the otter and scooped it into the crate.
Berube noted it was B次元官网网址渧ery sleepy at first and then perked up slightly once in the cage,B次元官网网址� adding the animal was B次元官网网址渁t least 25 pounds of jello and teeth.B次元官网网址�
After she secured the crate into her truck, the pup began to scream its head off.
B次元官网网址淥n instruction from MMR, I brought a bag of ice cubes to offer it,B次元官网网址� Berube said, adding she put some cubes in the crate and then turned off all the heat in her truck as otters need to stay in a cold environment.
Berube had exactly two hours to get to the Pacific Coastal airport in Campbell River to make a 6 p.m. flight, in order to get the pup to the Vancouver aquarium.
B次元官网网址淚 drove down while the baby screamed on and off and itB次元官网网址檚 screams grew weaker and weaker,B次元官网网址� said Berube. B次元官网网址淚 froze my toes off, with only my seat heater for warmth to keep the baby at a low temperature. I made it to the airport by 6:07 p.m. and rushed her inside to make the flight.B次元官网网址�
She said the airport staff were really good about the slight delay, and the otter at this point B次元官网网址渨as breathing, but mostly unresponsive.B次元官网网址�
The pup made it to Vancouver alive. Berube received a phone call from Akhurst at 7:45 p.m., where she could hear the babyB次元官网网址檚 screams in the background that told her B次元官网网址渟he was doing okay.B次元官网网址�
According to Berube, MMR staff worked with the pup B次元官网网址� named Quatse, in honour of the Quatse River B次元官网网址� throughout the night.
At this point it is uncertain whether she can be released back into the wild. SheB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渁live, well, has a healthy appetite and confirmed to be a girl!B次元官网网址� said Berube. B次元官网网址淭hey believe sheB次元官网网址檚 still dependent on her mother (who was no where to be found) but she had teeth already so she at least has a fighting chance, age wise.B次元官网网址�
The recommends certain steps when finding an animal in distress. You should not touch the animal, keep your distance, ensure dogs stay away, and do not further stress the animal while alerting expertise/authorities.
MERS added the aim when rescuing animals is always for reintroduction into the wild, which means that care includes avoiding habituation to humans.
If you see a marine mammal in trouble, you can call B.C. Marine Mammal Reporting Network hotline at 1-800-465-4336.
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