As a park ranger, you discover many fascinating sights along the way. And, to be honest, some truly shocking ones!
Recently, Tyler Bank, a park ranger from Oregon, stumbled upon something quite unusual. He was patrolling Cove Palisades State Park when a strange sight caught his attention.
A big ball of brown fur was curled up in the roadside ditch. When he took a more cautious look, Bank realized the fur belonged to two unlikely park animals in need of help!
He Ended Up Saving Two Lives
Ranger Bank was truly shocked by what he had found – two orphaned baby otters were lying together. He immediately contacted the State Police Wildlife Center, which assisted him with transporting the otters to Think Wild Cental Oregon.
There, this rescue and rehabilitation center had already devised a plan for helping the puppies.
After a vet exam and an initial assessment, the team made sure to keep the otters hydrated.
At the same time, they ensured that the animals were not too comfortable around humans. Given the otters’ nature, the rescuers knew excessive human presence and scent would significantly hinder their ability to later acclimate to the wild.
Instead, they kept these girls close to each other. They cuddled, stayed together, and relied on each other’s presence – which was more than enough to feel comfortable.
After an appropriate amount of time, the otters showed progress health-wise. And, that was the perfect time to initiate the second phase of their recovery!
Instead of keeping them in the facility, the TWCO team transported the sisters to Wildlife Center of the North Coast for further rehabilitation.
The Oregon organization explained this move on Facebook:
“Our two orphaned river otter patients received a veterinary examination at Think Wild to prepare for their transfer to Wildlife Center of the North Coast. There, they will spend up to 12 more months of rehabilitative care before being released back in Central Oregon.”
To everyone’s excitement, the rehabilitative care proved more than successful!
Finally, The News Everyone Had Been Waiting For
The TWCO team released the most exciting Facebook update at the end of November 2024, stating that the otter pups were finally ready to go back to their natural home – the park river!
According to the post, the staff determined both babies had developed skills required for life in the wild.
“WCNC and Think Wild staff determined that the otters had developed appropriate skills and behaviors for life back in the wild, having exhibited swimming proficiency, hunting behaviors, and social interactions,” TW stated.
Still, to make sure these two sisters had a good start in their new habitat, their caregivers decided to give them a little push. They left a small holt with food nearby.
This so-called “soft release” will only be temporary and will help the otters adjust to their new/old environment safely.
Needless to say, the otter pups’ release was a moment of pure joy! Everyone was excited to see these girls finally go back home where they’ll feel like they belong.
“Now, these two otter pups are back where they belong – exploring their new river home,” the rescue organization concluded.