Featured Image Credit: The State
By: Sarah Sharkey
Two young North American river otter pups were orphaned earlier this month. Their mother was unfortunately hit by a car and did not survive. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is working with the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island and the North Carolina Zoo to ensure that these pups have a good life.
The pups were found after a citizen called NCWRC after observing the young otters near Engelhard. The pups were recovered by NCWRC and assessed by Kristin Clark from the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Clark determined that the animals were healthy enough for an eventual release into the wild, but they were too young to care for themselves just yet.
The pups are only about six weeks old and are currently at the North Carolina Zoo in the Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehab Center. The pups will remain there and receive care for several months. It is hoped that the pups will continue to do well in this environment and avoid excessive human contact. The current plan is that the pups will be released back into the wild. It is expected that the pups will be released in late summer or early fall.
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