Twin baby otters rescued in Manitoba in need of help
A Manitoba animal rescue is looking for support for a pair of baby otters in its care.
According to the Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre, the twin otters were found near a marsh in St. Laurent, Man. They were weak and starving, with their mother found dead on a nearby road.
“We actually had a lot of calls about them from the community in St. Laurent…a lot of really concerned citizens were calling, because they were being found in many different yards and different areas,” said Zoe Nakata, executive director of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, in an interview with CTV Morning Live on Friday.
“They were looking for food. Then we found another caller who had found a deceased adult otter near the road, which we pieced together that it was the mom.”
The animal rescue said one of the baby otters was attacked by a dog and needed immediate medical attention. Nakata noted the otter had some “nasty wounds” from this altercation.
She added that baby otters typically stay with their mothers for a full year, so it was obvious the twins needed some extra care and nutrition.
“They needed to come in. They needed care for those wounds, so that’s kind of the story of how they came in,” Nakata said.
“We have the facility and actually the specialized building to have them all winter.”
The otters require food, vitamins, a clean enclosure and a clean pool. They also need medical check-ups, antibiotics and other medicine. Wildlife Haven expects the twins will remain in care for four months.
Nakata said otters are active animals, so the rehab centre is trying to give them a lot of activities.
“A lot of different enrichment that we try to challenge them with, and they just love to play together,” she said.
“They’re very social and it’s really good that they came in together as siblings. They’re really going to learn to be otters from each other and explore their natural instincts.”
To help cover the costs to care for and rehabilitate these young animals, Wildlife Haven is looking to Manitobans for help.
Nakata said the best way to contribute is through donations, which can be done online.
“We’re a non-profit charitable organization and we depend on the generosity of our community,” she said.
“We know that Manitobans are so generous, especially this time of year. So it’s an amazing opportunity for anybody that feels a special connection to these guys to donate.”
The Wildlife Haven Rehab Centre has not given names to the otters, as they’re trying not to get too attached.
“Once we release them back into the wild, we need to make sure they’re wild animals and back into nature as they’re supposed to,” Nakata said.
- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagace.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Saskatchewan isn't remitting the carbon tax on home heating. Why isn't my province following suit?
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
RCMP officers had no legal authority to enter man's home, make arrest: B.C. court
A B.C. man has been found not guilty of assaulting two RCMP officers – with the court finding he was resisting an "unlawful entry and arrest" in his home before he was tasered, taken down and hauled away in handcuffs.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.