One April morning, staff at the Little Creek Navy Base in Norfolk, Virginia, noticed two unexpected visitors outside an administration building — tiny, shivering otter pups, no more than 5 to 6 weeks old.
At first, everyone hoped their mother might return. But after a full day with no sign of her, the base called Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge for help.
Rescuers knew right away the babies were in danger.
“Otters that young should never be out of their den,” wildlife rehabber Cindy Lakin explained. “If they are, something’s wrong.”
The pups — soon named Cedar and Willow — were carefully taken in and placed under Lakin’s care. Weak and dehydrated, they received fluids, antibiotics, and the comfort of a safe space.
Slowly, they regained their strength, joining four other orphaned otters — Poppy, Oakley, Cherry, and Aspen — already at the refuge.
Now thriving, the siblings are learning to eat fish, splash in the water, and play nonstop with their new friends. “For otters, everything is fun and games,” Lakin said. “They love their toys.”
If all goes as planned, Cedar, Willow, and the others will return to the wild this spring — ready to live freely in the streams and forests where they belong.
To support more rescues like this one, consider donating to Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge.
