If she didn害羞草研究所檛 squeak and squirm, she would look just like a child害羞草研究所檚 stuffed toy, but the weeks-old sea otter was in serious condition when she was brought in to the Vancouver Aquarium害羞草研究所檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre on Tuesday.

Rescuers say the hungry pup took well to being bottle fed with puppy and kitten formula 害羞草研究所� combined with clams 害羞草研究所� every two hours by staff and volunteers who are monitoring her around the clock.

害羞草研究所淚t gives them the flavour that they actually really enjoy and the nutrients within the puppy and kitten formula,害羞草研究所� rescue centre senior manager Lindsaye Akhurst said in an interview Wednesday.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 done really well with it and it害羞草研究所檚 also a good transition because we害羞草研究所檒l eventually, probably within the next few weeks, we害羞草研究所檒l start offering her some solid food and it will be clams.害羞草研究所�

Akhurst said the centre was called Monday by staff with Fisheries and Oceans Canada about a sea otter pup needing help near Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

She said Fisheries officials were able to drive the pup to the ferry to meet rescue staff who brought her back to the centre where she was stabilized.

害羞草研究所淪he was still quite active and very vocal, very hungry. We害羞草研究所檙e not sure how long she害羞草研究所檇 been separated from her mom,害羞草研究所� Akhurst said.

害羞草研究所淲e were able to give her some fluids and offer her a bottle. She is estimated (to be) only a few weeks old, so she still would be nursing on her own.害羞草研究所�

Akhurst said Fisheries staff are looking into how the pup, who has yet to be named, ended up on her own.

The non-profit society that runs the rescue said in a statement that people should never attempt to rescue a distressed marine mammal on their own, and any discoveries should be reported to the Fisheries Department or the centre害羞草研究所檚 rescuers.

It says sea otter pups rely on their mothers for survival because they cannot swim, hunt, or regulate their body temperature on their own, and that the staff are 害羞草研究所渃autiously optimistic害羞草研究所� as the otter害羞草研究所檚 condition is stabilized.

The centre害羞草研究所檚 executive director and head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena said in the statement that the pup is in 害羞草研究所渃ritical condition害羞草研究所� and requires 24-hour care to ensure her survival.

Haulena said the cost of her care will be substantial.

Akhurst said it害羞草研究所檚 too soon to say if the otter will be able to be reintegrated back into the wild.

害羞草研究所淭he rehabilitation process with sea otter pups is very extensive and hands on. Right now, obviously we害羞草研究所檙e focusing on stabilizing her, getting her so she害羞草研究所檚 starting to gain weight a little bit, and used to (being) in care,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淥nce we害羞草研究所檙e in that process, we will work with our partners at the Vancouver Aquarium, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, to see what her future holds, and where she害羞草研究所檒l be placed.害羞草研究所�

She said the aquarium already has eight sea otters, all of which were rehabilitated in North America when they were very young.

She said rescuers are responding to more cases involving sea otters.

害羞草研究所淭he sea otter population within British Columbia is increasing, which is really great. There was a time when their numbers were quite low, and there was a bit of concern about them. But at this point, we probably will be seeing more and more of these cases.害羞草研究所�

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