For the past two weeks, staff and volunteers at the Florida Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary in Brevard County have been raising three North American river otter pups.

At about 5 weeks old, the fluffy patients remain highly dependent on their caretakers.

The pups, which are from the same litter, were found in Titusville at a residential construction site. When the den was discovered, an adult otter ran off and never returned.

Tracy Frampton, the hospital's executive director, said the otters are "doing well, but their condition could change at any moment."

"No matter how hard we try, mom does a better job than we do," Frampton said.

If the otters survive the critical early period, they will eventually be moved to a large, outdoor enclosure with a pool and will be fed live food. A release is penciled in for July or August.

Frampton said the hospital is mostly in need of financial donations, plastic playground equipment and 12-inch PVC pipes.

Raising each otter will cost about $2,300, the hospital said.

"If you find otter pups in the wild, leave them alone," Frampton said. "As tempting as it is to intervene, their mom is probably nearby and returning shortly."



(Photos by Florida Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary)



(Photos by Florida Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary)

