BARNSTABLE – The Cape Wildlife Center is pleased with the results of the rehabilitation and release of an orphan river otter found in Chatham last summer.
The otter was released into Assawompset Pond in Lakeville this week after spending months being fed and getting ready for her wild habitat at the center.
The center’s Director Debra Millman says the river otter was happy with her new home.
“We opened the door and she was just down the bank like a shot and swimming and then she got out for a while and we got to watch her explore her new home, but it’s just the perfect location for her to establish a permanent place to live and hopefully to raise young,” said Millman.
This was the first time the center has taken in and rehabilitated an orphan river otter.
Millman says it was important to find the right habitat for the river otter.
“It was important for us to find her a large open body of water away from people and traffic with lots of food and plenty of room to navigate,” said Millman.
The center’s staff were instructed to maintain the river otter’s wild nature as best as possible, feeding her by chute instead of by hand.
