Watch: Adorable Otter Kit On The Road To Recovery

CLEARWATER, FL — Clearwater Marine Aquarium might be best known for its work rescuing dolphins and sea turtles, but that doesn’t mean it won’t take in an occasional otter. In fact, rescuing otter babies, or kits, at they’re called, is part of the organization’s mission.

“Our goal is to rescue any marine life in the area that we can,” David Yates, chief executive officer, told Patch. “It’s part of our legacy.”

Yates said the Clearwater aquarium, known the world over for its work with Winter the dolphin, is filling a need to help otter babies in distress.

“(There are) no other groups in our area that do that,” he said. “There really is a need.”

The aquarium most commonly takes in otters during “kit season,” which runs from November through March in Florida. The need for rescues has been relatively low this year with the exception of “Murray,” the aquarium reported on Friday. The little guy was brought into CMA’s marine mammal hospital and triage center on Feb. 25 after being found abandoned in Pasco County.

When Murray was brought in, CMA’s Dr. Shelly Marquardt noted he was healthy overall. Murray, who weighed just 4.4 pounds, did have blood glucose levels that were deemed too low. To help the little critter out, he was prescribed subcutaneous fluids.

“Murray’s glucose was reassessed after each fluid treatment until it was within the desired range,” CMA reported in an email to media. He received around-the-clock care until he was deemed to be in good health. Not quite ready for release back in the wild, however, Murray was transferred to CROW, a rescue in Sanibel. He’ll remain there in good company until he’s ready to return to the wild, CMA officials said.

“CROW had been rehabbing another otter kit that needed a companion for release,” CMA’s email explained. “It was decided that Murray would be that companion and will remain at CROW for a period of a few months prior to release.”

CMA is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing marine life. The organization also has a mission to teach environmental education, conduct research and promote conservation. It was made famous internationally with its highly publicized rescue of Winter, a dolphin that lost her tail after she became entangled in a crab trap line. Winter was fitted with a prosthetic tail, which has enabled her to thrive. Her story was chronicled in the “Dolphin Tale” movies.

Folks who want to help Clearwater Marine Aquarium in its mission to help creatures like Murray and Winter can do so by donating via the aquarium’s website. Donations made to the general Animal Care Fund help with a variety of rescue efforts, including those meant to assist otter kits like Murray.

Donations to the animal care fund are greatly appreciated, Yates said.

Rehabilitating marine animals is “very expensive work,” he said. “They’re not paying patients.”

And, for those who encounter otters like Murray in the wild, Yates recommends keeping a safe distance. “Don’t be deceived by their cuteness”; they can and do sometimes bite.

For more information about the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, or CROW, visit that organization online.

Photo courtesy of Clearwater Marine Aquarium