SO GOOD LUCK. YEAH, SO THERE’S THAT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THIS IS A GOOD ONE. THIS IS FROM THE CENTRAL COAST. A SEA OTTER PUP GOT REUNITED WITH ITS MOM. IT’S REAL. REAL CRY AND EXCITED. MARINE MAMMAL CENTER SHARED THE VIDEOS WITH US. WHAT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO A BABY’S CRIES? ACTUALLY, THE SEA OTTER PUP NAMED CATERPILLAR VOCALIZING FOR ITS MOM AFTER RECEIVING A CALL ABOUT AN OTTER PUP SEEN ON THE SHORE. THEY RECORDED THE PUP’S CRIES IN HOPES THAT THE MOM WOULD HEAR IT. THEY WERE FINALLY REUNITED AFTER LOOKING FOR TWO HOURS. RELATIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR PAIRINGS OF MOMS AND POPS, SO IN THIS SITUATION WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL MOM BECAUSE OF THOSE VOCALIZATIONS. I DEFINITELY CRIED A LITTLE BIT WHEN SHE CAME UP AND GOT THE PUP. IT WAS A SUPER REWARDING LIKE TOP FIVE DAY AT WORK EVER. THIS WAS THE FIRST REUNIFICATION OF MORRO BAY SINCE 2019. MARINE MAMMAL CENTER SAYS IT WAS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOUTHERN SEA OTTERS ARE A
Video shows sea otter pup reunited with mother in Morro Bay
Updated: 7:09 AM PST Nov 12, 2025
A sea otter pup named Caterpillar was reunited with its mother in Morro Bay after two hours of searching, marking the first reunification in the area since 2019.The Marine Mammal Center shared a video of the Oct. 20 reunion, noting that the pup’s cries, which sounded similar to a baby’s cry, were recorded to help the mother locate her offspring. “Vocalizations are very important for pairings of moms and pups, so in this situation we were able to identify the potential mom because of those vocalizations,” said Aliah Meza, senior manager at the Marine Mammal Center.It was an emotional reunion, making it hard for rescuers to keep their eyes dry. “I definitely cried a little bit when she came up and got the pup. It was super rewarding, like top five day at work ever,” Shayla Zink, operations coordinator for the Marine Mammal Center, said.The team followed the otter pair and watched them for about an hour after the reunion to ensure they were bonding properly.The Marine Mammal Center noted the significance of the reunion, as southern sea otters are a threatened species.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
MORRO BAY, Calif. —
A sea otter pup named Caterpillar was reunited with its mother in Morro Bay after two hours of searching, marking the first reunification in the area since 2019.
The Marine Mammal Center shared a video of the Oct. 20 reunion, noting that the pup’s cries, which sounded similar to a baby’s cry, were recorded to help the mother locate her offspring.
“Vocalizations are very important for pairings of moms and pups, so in this situation we were able to identify the potential mom because of those vocalizations,” said Aliah Meza, senior manager at the Marine Mammal Center.
It was an emotional reunion, making it hard for rescuers to keep their eyes dry.
“I definitely cried a little bit when she came up and got the pup. It was super rewarding, like top five day at work ever,” Shayla Zink, operations coordinator for the Marine Mammal Center, said.
The team followed the otter pair and watched them for about an hour after the reunion to ensure they were bonding properly.
The Marine Mammal Center noted the significance of the reunion, as southern sea otters are a threatened species.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel