A female northern sea otter pup was admitted into the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program after being found stranded on the road in Kenai.

According to a news release from the center, the pup was rescued on Monday, Sept. 4, and is the latest in an “extensive roster” of animals rescued this summer.

The seal was reported to be stranded on the road, “about a mile away from the river,” the release says, and the person who spotted and reported her initially believed the animal was a cat.

The mother wasn’t found in the vicinity, and the pup was brought back to the center in Seward for rehabilitation, the release says. Center staff estimated her age is around 3 months, and found her to be dehydrated and malnourished. She had low blood sugar and hadn’t eaten in a while.

“Northern sea otter mothers invest a lot of maternal care into their pups, and will not leave their pups unaccompanied except to dive for food,” the release says. “When a sea otter pup is admitted as a patient … it requires 24/7 care from our team.”

That care means assisting with grooming and closely monitoring nutrition until the pup is around 6 months old.

To report an injured or stranded marine animal in Alaska, call the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-744-7325.

For more information about the Alaska SeaLife Center and for continuing updates about the wildlife response patients, visit facebook.com/AlaskaSeaLifeCenter.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

A female northern sea otter rescued in Kenai on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, is seen at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)