Scottish SPCA and UK Wild Otter Trust care for otter cubs

The otters, named Meri and Eden by carers, were rescued in Scotland before being taken to the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross.

However, water supply problems meant the centre in Clacks had to contact the UK Wild Otter Trust, based in Devon some 500 miles away, for support.

Luckily, the trust was able to take in the cubs and care for them at specialist site for rehabilitating otter cubs, capable of holding up to 40.

And from the “otter hospital” the cubs have returned to their original Scottish home to be released, having made great progress in recovery.

(Image: UK Wild Otter Trust)

Dave Webb, CEO of the UK Wild Otter Trust spoke about how the cubs made the 1000-mile round journey.

He said: “Each and every otter we’re alerted about is important to us, and we’ll do whatever we can to ensure these cubs get the care they need.

“We often collaborate with other charities and rescue centres to ensure the best for the animals that we all work endlessly to help and care for, so of course we agreed to take in these two cubs from Scotland.

“We were hesitant at first in terms of the travel and logistics, but we collected the animals and transferred them to our centre here in Devon for the completion of their rehabilitation with the help of one of our wonderful volunteers who is based in Scotland.

“They settled in well, and thankfully they weren’t stressed by the journey in the slightest.”

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Meri and Eden were ready to return to the wild at the end of August, having put on nearly 2kg.

Scotland is home to otters which can be found all over the country and there are larger populations around the west coast and islands.

Charities such as the UK Wild Otter Trust and the SSPCA are often involved in rescuing and rehabilitating wild otters due to cubs being orphaned, often through road traffic accidents or flooding.