Featured image: An Alert Bay RCMP officer with one of the otter pups rescued on July 28. Photo from Alert Bay RCMP
By Evaye Lanyon
What started as a normal day in Alert Bay quickly turned into quite the rescue mission when three otter pups found themselves in a very unfortunate situation on July 28.
Thankfully, a quick response from residents in Alert Bay helped save the life of one of the young animals, which was found unresponsive.
The incident happened at the ’Namgis Dock on Cormorant Island, an area where local wildlife is common. Earlier in the day, residents heard animals making distressing noises and went to find out what was happening. When they arrived, they discovered three juvenile otters caught in pieces of fishing net that had been left on the dock.
The residents immediately stepped in to help. They were able to carefully free two of the young otters, which quickly made their way back into the water to reunite with their mother.
The third otter, however, was in much more serious condition. Netting had become tightly wrapped around its neck, making it difficult for the animal to breathe.
A resident quickly cut the net away, only to discover that the otter was unresponsive and had stopped breathing. Rather than waiting for help to arrive, the resident began performing CPR on the small animal. The effort was successful, and the otter began breathing again.
The Alert Bay RCMP later attended the scene and helped connect the residents with a local wildlife rescue volunteer. With assistance from the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) in Merville, arrangements were made to transport the injured otter to a wildlife rehabilitation facility, where it could receive professional treatment and care.
After several days of medical attention and rehabilitation, the young otter made a full recovery. Once it was healthy enough to return to the wild, it was transported back to Alert Bay and reunited with its family.
The successful rescue shows what can happen when a community comes together to help local wildlife. It also serves as a reminder that fishing equipment can create serious hazards for wildlife. Nets, ropes and other gear along shared shorelines can easily become traps for animals and sea life. Keeping track of fishing gear and making sure it is properly stored or disposed of can go a long way towards keeping wildlife safe.
For the people of Cormorant Island, the rescue is a reminder that protecting local wildlife is something that involves the whole community, and can be as simple as investigating strange noises.
In this case, that quick action meant a young otter got a second chance at life.
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