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Rescued Otter Makes A Splash With Return To Wild

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

Updated: 12/10/2008 01:56 pm

TAMPA - The carrier door swung open and the otter took a cautious step before breaking into a trot toward the water and disappearing with a splash.

He swam up the Hillsborough River, made a U-turn and swam the other way, diving and resurfacing with barely a ripple.

The release this morning marked the first time an otter cared for at The Florida Aquarium has been returned to the wild.

This otter made its way to the aquarium thanks to the attention and patience of Jeff Eilertsen of Lakeland.

Eilertsen knew something wasn't right when he spotted a dark shape slumped next to a four-lane access road along the Polk Parkway. He pulled over and saw it was an otter, probably struck by a car.

The animal was not bleeding, but it drifted in and out of consciousness. Eilertsen called around for help and waited for 90 minutes with the otter, blocking it when it staggered toward the road, checking its pulse, even administering tiny chest compressions when the heartbeat stalled.

He knew the otter had a chance.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission finally arrived and contacted the aquarium, which has an orphaned and injured otter rehabilitation program.

The aquarium has treated 21 North American river otters, but none ever grew healthy enough to release.

Aquarium biologists and veterinarians were not sure the Polk County otter would recover. He was lethargic and barely responsive.

He improved rapidly during the first 24 hours, perking up and starting to eat. Though wobbly, he got better each day. The aquarium dubbed him "Hit By Car" otter but didn't want to name him, hoping he'd be released, biologist Susan Gerros said.

They limited his exposure to people and spoke softly around him. Radiographs showed he had buckshot or BB pellets in his neck, but veterinarians thought that was an old injury and unrelated to his recent problems. The tissue had healed around the pellets.

The aquarium administered antibiotics and checked his eyesight, which can become a problem for otters injured by automobiles. He responded well and started hunting live fish the aquarium provided in a pool.

"He was flicking them out of the pool and eating them," Gerros said.

His quick progress made him a good candidate for return to the wild, Gerros said.

After two weeks, the aquarium took the otter to a riverbank at Trout Creek Park, one of the chain of state and county parks along the river in northeastern Hillsborough County.

Eilertsen joined Gerros and others from the aquarium to watch the release. He wouldn't talk about himself, focusing instead on the animal.

"I'm thrilled," Eilertsen said. "I really am. People still care."

He cheered the otter on as it ducked into the water and thanked the creature softly for the time they had spent together.

Just in case "Hit By Car" otter had the same thought, Eilertsen also whispered, "You're welcome."

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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