A two-week old sea otter pup rescued near a beachfront house in Homer is getting around-the-clock care at the Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward and already gaining weight.
The malnourished and dehydrated pup weighed just 5.6 pounds and was in critical condition when he was brought to ASLC by volunteers Nov. 12.
“He was so hungry that he tried to chew the nipple off the baby bottle when we gave him his first feed,” veterinarian Elizabeth deCastro said.
While he clearly had an appetite, the ASLC team worked to integrate formula slowly so as not to overwhelm his system, and to encourage him to eat more moderately.
The pup now weighs 8 pounds and staff are cautiously optimistic about his condition.
Hanna Sundstrom, a veterinary assistant specialist, said the pup is proving to be very independent, that he has been exploring his pools extensively and is already taking really good care of his coat. Next on the agenda is to get him eating more solid food like clam and to encourage him to swim and dive in a larger pool.
Due to financial setbacks faced by ASLC due to fewer visitors because of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASLC is more reliant on donors that ever before to care for animals like this pup.
Thanks to the Save the Center Campaign launched during the summer over $4 million was raised, with $2.3 million coming from individual donors. Donors to the Center’s Wildlife Response Program also include ConocoPhillips, BP, Marathon Petroleum Corp., SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, Borman Family Foundation, PetZoo, GCI, Partners4Wildlife, HDR Marine, Sea Otter Foundation & Trust, and Grizzly Pet Products.
