A female sea otter pup, rescued from a beach in Homer, has become the first live patient of the 2025 wildlife response season admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, according to a May 13 press release from the center.
The roughly 2-month-old pup was found alone, lethargic and malnourished, by concerned beach walkers. They called the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline to report the disabled pup, with SeaLife Center wildlife response volunteers Mike Coffing and Sarah Wilhelm responding.
After Coffing and Wilhelm assessed the pup and confirmed her critical condition, the team relayed their findings to SeaLife Center staff in Seward, who immediately contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to authorize her transport for urgent veterinary care.
Before she was cleared to make the journey to Seward, the pup received stabilizing care at Kachemak Bay Animal Hospital, under the care of local veterinarian Zach Gardenfors, SeaLife Center Wildlife Response staff member Christie Hill, and the support of other members of the animal hospital staff.
The SeaLife Center said the local vet’s rapid response helped prepare the otter pup for the next phase of treatment.
“It was a super quick response by our Homer team that gave this little girl a chance,” said SeaLife Center Husbandry Coordinator Deanna Trobaugh, who fielded the original call and helped coordinate the rescue.
“It’s always a race against the clock with animals this young,” Trobaugh added. “Our team in Homer responded with urgency and compassion. Everything came together quickly to get her to the ASLC, where she could get the help she needed.”
Upon arrival at the Alaska SeaLife Center, the veterinary team found the pup suffering from dehydration, malnourishment and a suspected injury to one of her front paws. The center said she is currently receiving 24/7 care, stabilizing treatments, and additional diagnostics to better understand the severity of her condition.
“Sea otter pups like this one need round-the-clock care in their earliest months of life,” the center’s wildlife response curator, Jane Belovarac, said. “They rely on their mothers for everything from grooming to nutrition, and when a pup is orphaned, it’s up to our team to step in. We’re doing everything we can to give this pup the best possible start.”
You can follow the pup’s recovery progress online @AlaskaSeaLifeCenter on Facebook and Instagram.
If you encounter a vulnerable or stranded marine animal, you can report them by calling the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-7325.
