A quiet walk along the shoreline in Beadnell, England, turned into a rescue mission this past September when beachgoers noticed something unusual on the rocks.
There, soaked and shivering, was a small brown animal barely moving.
As they got closer, the Good Samaritans realized it was a baby otter. Unsure how she’d ended up alone on the beach — and knowing she was vulnerable — they immediately called Blyth Wildlife Rescue for help.
While they waited, the group stayed nearby for more than an hour, shielding the tiny otter from danger and keeping watch until help arrived.
Blyth Wildlife Rescue founder John Anderson and senior medic Teri Charlton rushed up the coast to reach her. From the moment they arrived, they knew the situation was serious.
The otter cub was severely underweight and suffering from hypothermia and low blood sugar. The team believed she had likely been separated from her mother during Storm Floris, which had battered northern Europe just weeks earlier.
They named the cub Floris, in honor of the storm that nearly took her life.
Rescuers wasted no time getting Floris to a veterinarian, where she began receiving emergency care — including warm fluids and frequent milk feeds. At first, her condition was critical.
But then something remarkable happened.
“Floris performed an incredible turnaround,” Anderson told The Dodo. “She changed rapidly from a docile and lethargic patient into a hissy, feisty survivor with very little interest in human interaction.”
For wildlife rehabilitators, that attitude shift was the best news of all.
Over the following weeks, Floris continued to grow stronger. She learned how to catch her own fish — a crucial milestone that allowed her to gain weight while keeping a healthy distance from her carers.
Today, Floris is thriving in Scotland at the International Otter Survival Fund’s wildlife facility, where she lives alongside other rescued otters her age. When the time is right next autumn, Floris and her companions will be released back into the wild together — right where they belong.
Anderson hopes Floris’ journey inspires others to act thoughtfully if they ever encounter a wild animal in trouble.
“As Floris grows stronger and more confident, her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation,” the rescue shared on Facebook. “We’re proud to have played a part in her journey back to the wild.”
To support rescues like Floris’, you can donate to Blyth Wildlife Rescue and help more wild animals get a second chance.
