Family reunions are always memorable occasions - some, more than others.

Theo Truax and his family returned from their reunion in Comox recently with a more unusual memory than most. They rescued an otter.

The family had rented a property on Point Holmes for the special event.

While the weather was not overly co-operative (it rained every day), Mother Nature did intevene to give the event a lasting memory.

害羞草研究所淢y Aunt Dawn, from Virginia, was just about to go out for a walk,害羞草研究所� explained Truax. 害羞草研究所淪he had put on her raingear and was heading out the door, when she saw an otter come up from the beach with a fish in its mouth and head toward the pool.害羞草研究所�

The otter entered the pool (which had not yet been filled for the season) at the shallow end, then slid down the steep incline to the deep end, with the fish.

害羞草研究所淪he (Dawn) watched it for a few minutes, saw that it couldn害羞草研究所檛 get out, then called myself and my partner, and we came over,害羞草研究所� said Truax.

The family tried various non-invasive methods to help rescue the otter from the pool, offering different climbing implements with the hope the otter would use its natural abilities to climb up and out of the pool.

First a pool skimmer was lowered in. The otter did approach it, but then swam away.

Next, a drainage hose was offered. The otter tried to scale the hose, but to no avail.

Finally, Truax went to the beach and retrieved a 12-foot log, which he lowered into the deep end of the pool, angling upwards.

害羞草研究所淚 could see that the other methods weren害羞草研究所檛 working害羞草研究所� so I just thought 害羞草研究所榳hy don害羞草研究所檛 I just walk down to the beach and get a log.害羞草研究所� I was pretty sure that the otter, who spends his life climbing on logs, would be comfortable walking up the log.害羞草研究所�

He was right. The otter quickly figured out the reason for the log, scaled it, and ran back to the shore.

This may not have been the first time the otter had visited the pool.

害羞草研究所淭he owner of the property told us that when the pool had been full, the otter had been coming into the pool and eating fish in the pool, and hanging out in the pool, and maybe this was the first time the otter had been back since it was drained,害羞草研究所� said Truax. 害羞草研究所淚t seemed like the otter was very much expecting the pool to be full, and (had that been the case) it wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have had any problem getting out.害羞草研究所�

Truax said the event was talked about for the remainder of the holiday.

害羞草研究所淲e are still talking about it; it was just a lot of fun. The otter never seemed too worried or stressed out, so it really felt like more of a fun story than that we were doing an important rescue. Just kind of fun.害羞草研究所�

And the video evidence will keep the memory fresh for years to come.

terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
Like us on and follow us on