CROW caring for six otters
A north American river otter that arrived at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife in early February is no longer the only one in the clinics care.
There are now six otters, either orphaned or transferred from other clinics, calling CROW home until August, September time. The otters have arrived at CROW from Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale and Clearwater.
CROW rehabber Brenna Frankel said around August, September time they will be functioning and hunting as if they were in the wild. While the otters are at CROW, she said staff is mimicking the motherly behavior to help the otters progress into adulthood.
The youngest of the bunch, 8 weeks old, arrived at CROW Saturday, March 11. As of last week the otter remained inside the CROW hospital. As soon as it gained enough weight it would be shifted outdoors to a small enclosure that has a small pool, which is drained at the end of the day.
Frankel said the pool is drained to prevent any drowning from occurring. She said between 8-12 weeks old, the otters tend to spend more time in their cubby homes, rather than in the water.
The rate of when the otters are moved from indoors to the small enclosure, and eventually into the larger enclosure with a deeper pool, all depends on the otters progress. As of last Monday there were three otters in the baby pool enclosure, two in the large pool enclosure and one inside the hospital.
Although the large otter enclosure can house up to 11, she said having a total of eight in one area is the best case scenario.
“Hopefully we will stick with six,” Frankel said.
She said since otters are social animals, they are typically transferred to the same clinic.
Since the otters arrived at CROW at different times, from different areas and different stages of their lives, they are crated in the same area when being introduced to one another. Frankel said the otters smell one another through the crate, which is supervised by staff. She said they watch for any aggression that is shown.
With the otters being so young, Frankel said it is easier to introduce them to one another.
“I’m excited to get them all together,” she said.
All of the otters, at first, are given otter milk before being introduced to chicken and fish chow.
Those who wish to watch the otter’s play, can do so by visiting www.crowclinic.org and clicking on live cameras in the top lefthand corner of the website.