Mooring, a southern sea otter, was caught in a life-threatening entanglement. She was found with mooring rope (used to secure boats) wrapped around her small body. With support from our partners, Mooring was brought to our hospital for life-saving care.

First, our trained veterinarians carefully removed the rope. Then they treated a large wound on her left flipper. Mooring continued to recover in a safe, specialized otter tote designed with a controlled environment for healing, including a haul-out area and pool. She was fed a hearty diet of crustaceans and received enrichment activities such as imitation kelp and “shrimp-cicles” to encourage foraging.

Mooring is now swimming free in her ocean home. Since her release, Mooring has been resighted in her natural habitat looking healthy and surrounded by other sea otters.