AQUARIUM CARING FOR ORPHANED SEA OTTER PUP

This young sea otter pup was found on her own off the coast of Alaska in mid-July 2004, when she was only a week or two old. She was rescued and taken to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, where our Marine Mammal Rescue staff traveled to help care for her. The team brought her to her new home in Vancouver to continue her care on August 26th, 2004.

Caring for a sea otter pup is a full-time job. In the wild, sea otter pups learn their survival skills from their moms. Our Animal Care Staff play the role of “mom”, helping the pup to develop the skills she will need to take care of herself. Over time, the pup will become more independent of her human caregivers.

Visitors to the Vancouver Aquarium will be able to watch our Animal Care Staff working with the pup on a daily basis. Here's a look at what you might see:

Feeding

Sea otter pups eat about 30-35% of their body weight a day! The amount of formula the pup receives will gradually decrease and her solid food will increase until she is fully weaned. Until she has been weaned, the pup will receive her formula via a baby bottle.

Grooming
Adult sea otters spend at least 15% of their day grooming. This pup is learning to groom on her own, but still needs some help from staff to remove water and mats from her fur. Sea otters depend on their fur to keep them warm, as they have no insulating blubber layer. It is critical that sea otters keep their fur clean to maintain an insulating air layer between the water and their skin.

Playing
Just like human babies, otter pups learn through play. By playing with toys, the pup will develop motor skills she’ll need for the future.

Sleeping
All animals need their rest. The pup naps from a few minutes to over an hour at a time.

Feeding	Grooming	Playing	Sleeping

Swimming

Sea otters mate, sleep, groom, hunt, give birth, rest and play in the ocean. Sea otter pups are born in water and float like corks, but they can not swim for several weeks. A sea otter mother carries her pup on her stomach, and spends much of her day caring for her baby: feeding, protecting, teaching, and grooming. That is why this sea otter pup needs so much constant attention.

For more information on Sea Otters, or other aquatic creatures, check out our AquaFacts.