When workers at a Virginia Beach Navy Base arrived at their administration building, they encountered a surprising sight. There was something furry curled up at their doorstep.
Once the staff moved closer, they locked eyes with their unexpected visitors, who turned out to be baby otters who were about five to six weeks old.
The otters, later named Willow and Cedar, were adorable but very scared of humans.
As soon as they saw the staff approaching, they started screaming, as otters usually do, out of fear.
A Second Chance For The Otter Babies
The workers fed them for some time and decided that the best course of action would be to wait and see if the babies’ mother picked them up.
“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.
The next morning, they found the babies at the same place, and the navy base staff knew that something needed to be done.
The staff reached out to Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge, located in Suffolk, Virginia, and asked them to help Willow and Cedar.
As soon as the rescuers heard about the situation the baby otters were in, they suspected that something had happened to their mom.
They knew that their lives were in danger, and they rushed to rescue them.
“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.
Heartbreakingly, it turned out that Willow and Cedar were orphans. They lost their mom due to a car accident several days ago.
The rescuers picked the babies up and brought them to Lakin’s three-acre property, where she was already taking care of four orphaned otter pups, named Poppy, Oakley, Cherry, and Aspen.
Upon arrival, Willow and Cedar were dehydrated, exhausted, and still pretty scared.
The Otters’ Road To Recovery
Lakin gave them fluids and antibiotics so that they could regain their strength and recover faster. She prepared a formula and started feeding them several times a day.
As time went by, Cedar and Willow thrived. Recently, they started eating fish and learning how to swim.
In their free time, the otter pups enjoyed playing with their toys and hanging out with their friends.
“For otters, everything is fun and games. They love their toys,” Lakin added.
Lakin loved watching them during their playtime. Listening to their happy chirps filled her with joy.
The Virginia rescuers plan to set all six otters free in the spring of 2026.
Thanks to good humans and an amazing caregiver, they will start their lives in forests and streams where they belong.