Last weekend, otter lover Tiffany Walters shared a desperate post on Facebook after finding two dead female otters on Cressing Road, Witham, near to her home.
One of the otters was lactating, which indicated there were probably cubs nearby.
It was critical to find them within the next few days, as they cannot survive long without their mother.
After spending hours searching over multiple days, Tiffany was beginning to lose hope – until, on Friday, her mum saw a post on Facebook from a resident in nearby Church Road that a young otter had appeared in her garden.
Baby – A baby otter has been rescued after its mum was found dead last weekend. Other cubs may still be out there. (Image: Tiffany Walters)
Tiffany was thrilled. “I rung the lady directly and said, ‘Can I come and get it? I intend to take it straight to where it can be rehabilitated’,” she said.
“I went in the garden, the otter was under a pile of sticks and her dogs were barking at it – they didn’t realise what it was.”
When she picked it up, Tiffany said the otter didn’t put up much of a fight, which indicated it may be weak and unwell.
She rushed the little female otter, who was lovingly named Tuppence, to the South Essex Wildlife Hospital in Grays, where the vets said she was about six weeks old and had an infection.
Rescuer – Tiffany Walters, pictured with her husband, has spent hours searching for the baby otters this week and will continue to look for more (Image: Tiffany Walters)
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“They’re going to treat it straight away with antibiotics, and hopefully it pulls through,” Tiffany said.
“It’s a little girl. She’s feisty. When the vet picked her up to check her she did put up a fight, so that’s a good sign.
“She’s now in their safe hands, and hopefully that’ll be it and she’s going to live to be a lovely, beautiful otter.”
The little otter was found near the railway near Church Street. Tiffany will return to the area to see if other baby otters can be found.