A River Otter Rescue

River otters,  (not the ones in the story):  Lontra Canadensis
Picture credit: Dmitry Azovtsev
 
This morning there was a sweet story on our local TV news about three tiny river otter babies who were rescued recently and right now are fighting for their lives.
It was disappointing that after spending  most of the day calling and searching, not one picture of a baby otter was available, or a person to approve their picture being used.
But, thankfully, they are in the stories below for you to enjoy.
The wee ones are being tenderly tended to and nursed by kindly volunteers at the Florida Wildlife Hospital/Rehab and Sanctuary in Palm Shores Florida, which is located between Melbourne and Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic Coast.
Please make sure to look at their Wish list to see exactly what they want and need,  to allow them to continue doing their good work.
This non profit organization is very dependent on volunteers and donations from the public, to continue their work with injured and abandoned wildlife here in Central Florida.
Seeing these tiny babies today, brought back happy memories of the many seen in Monterey Bay years ago.
The otters ongoing frolicking delighted the visitors to the waters all around the Monterey Bay Aquarium who would stand and watch them play for hours.
The river otter is a small to medium sized fur bearing mammal found widely across the Country, usually near food and water sources of their liking, and they usually live in Dens near their chosen food and water sources.
The most common food of choice will be fish or amphibians, yet they can also be omnivores eating a wide variety of available foods.
Attention to water quality in America has helped the river otter stay out of trouble, it is fairly adaptable to many types of water, from rivers and ponds, to lakes and coastal fresh water estuaries.
In the early discovery years of this country and the encroaching civilization that accompanied it,  this sleek beautiful animal had been mercilessly hunted by trappers for their fur, nearly to complete decimation, but at this time, for many reasons, their numbers are a bit more stable.
Their greatest threat today, is their habitat and/or ecological destruction, basically the things that bothers us, bothers them as well.
After learning more about these beautiful, delightful creatures, perhaps, like me, you will believe that they were indeed quite lucky to be rescued as they were.
 
Places to learn more:
Three baby otters rescued in Palm Shores
River otters are playful inhabitants of Florida’s watersheds
Wildlife officials rescue otter pups found at Titusville construction site
Three baby otters rescued
Wildlife officials rescue otter pups found at Florida construction site
Florida Wildlife Hospital