Animal care team members from Shedd Aquarium in Chicago recently collaborated with the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward to help rehabilitate a stranded three-month-old sea otter pup.
Six weeks ago, a community member called ASLC’s Stranded Marine Mammal Hotline after noticing a lone seal pup unusually far from the water in Homer. After hours of waiting for the pup’s mother to return, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorized ASLC to admit the orphaned pup to its facility for rehabilitative care.
Because otter pups require 24/7 care, Shedd caretakers took turns traveling from Chicago to Seward to assist in the pup’s rehabilitation efforts. From midnight until 8 a.m., they would feed the pup formula and small chunks of fish, groom his fur and dry him off after he spent time in the water. Because sea otters have the densest fur of any animal on earth, it’s essential for otter pups to learn grooming skills from their mothers.
“Compared to adult sea otters, there are many nuances to caring for a pup that requires around-the-clock support,” Maile Ellwitz, animal trainer at Shedd Aquarium, said in an Oct. 15 joint press release. “I’m honored to lend my expertise in sea otter care to help an animal in need and further the mission of both Shedd and ASLC.”
Shedd is a globally recognized leader in animal care and conservation. Since its establishment in 1930, Shedd has partnered with marine mammal rehabilitation facilities around the world.
This isn’t the first time Shedd has assisted ASLC with a stranded sea otter. In 2023, ASLC received a call about a pup from a resident in Seldovia. The team spent a month working around the clock to rehabilitate the pup, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ultimately decided the otter could not be released back into the wild. The otter, named Seldovia after the community that stepped in to save him, arrived at his new home in the Shedd Aquarium on Nov. 29, 2023.
“As the only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility in the state, ASLC plays a critical role in giving sea otters, seals and other Alaskan marine wildlife a second chance,” Jane Belovarac, ASLC’s Wildlife Response Curator, said in the press release. “We’re grateful for the support of organizations, animal experts and people from across the country who help us protect and care for the diverse marine ecosystem in Alaska.”
According to the release from ASLC, the pup has reached important milestones thanks to ASLC and Shedd’s collaborative efforts. He’s now able to hold his breath underwater, groom himself and eat solid food.
Learn more about Shedd Aquarium at www.sheddaquarium.org. Follow updates on the sea otter pup rescued from Homer at www.alaskasealife.org, or find the center on Facebook and Instagram.
