When employees at a Virginia Beach Navy Base showed up for work at the administration building, they were greeted by a surprising sight. Curled up at the doorstep was something furry and small.
As they stepped closer, the mystery was solved, staring back at them were two baby otters, only about five to six weeks old.
The pups, soon named Willow and Cedar, were adorable but extremely wary of people. The moment they noticed humans approaching, they let out loud screams, a natural response of frightened otters.
A Second Chance For The Otter Babies
At first, the base workers did their best to care for them. They provided food and waited, hoping their mother might return.
“They (the workers) tossed food to them for a couple of days. They thought their mother would eventually come and get them but that never happened,” wildlife rehabilitator, Cindy Lakin, told Daily Press.
But each morning, the little ones were still at the same spot. It became clear the situation was serious, and the Navy staff knew they couldn’t leave them there.
They contacted Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge in Suffolk, Virginia, asking for help with Willow and Cedar.
Rescuers suspected something had happened to their mother and feared the babies would not survive on their own.
“Otters at that age would never be out of their den. If they are out, something has happened, and they need rescue,” Lakin told The Dodo.
Sadly, the suspicion proved correct… The pups’ mother had been struck by a car only a few days earlier.
The rescue team brought Willow and Cedar to Lakin’s three-acre property, where she was already caring for four other orphaned otters named Poppy, Oakley, Cherry, and Aspen.
The newcomers were weak, dehydrated, and still very nervous.
The Otters’ Road To Recovery
Lakin quickly stepped in with fluids, antibiotics, and a carefully prepared formula to help them regain strength. She bottle-fed them several times a day and made sure they had everything they needed.
Over time, Cedar and Willow began to thrive. Soon, they started eating fish and even practicing their swimming skills.
During playtime, the otters entertained themselves with toys and bonded with their fellow rescued pups.
“For otters, everything is fun and games. They love their toys,” Lakin added.
Watching them chirp happily while tumbling around filled their caregiver with joy.
If all continues as planned, Willow, Cedar, and the other four orphans will be released back into the wild in the spring of 2026.
Thanks to kind humans and their dedicated rescuer, they’ll have the chance to live the life nature intended, in rivers and forests, far away from danger.