Meet the Sanctuary Otters!

New Arrivals - Dori and Queenie!

We would like you to meet Queenie and Dori, who have arrived with us from the SSPCA. Queenie is a young female Eurasian otter who was found on the Isle of Bute with a small spinal injury. After initial care in Bute she made her way to the SSPCA at Fishcross. Here she met her new partner in crime, Dori!

Dori, a male Eurasian otter, arrived at Fishcross after being found in St. Andrews, Scotland, at the very young age of 3-4 weeks old. He was so young that his eyes had not yet fully opened, but he has since come on in leaps and bounds!

The two young otters have settled in well, and love each others company! We look forward to giving you futher updates in the coming weeks and months!

River and Linnhe!

River

River is a young male Eurasian otter and was only about nine weeks old when he was found alone in the Livingston area of Scotland. With no sign of his mother, River was taken to the Scottish SPCA wildlife rescue centre for initial care. Once he was doing well and had gained weight, River was paired with another young male at the centre called Linnhe.

Linnhe

Linnhe was a tiny, four weeks old when he was found calling for his mother, near Loch Linnhe in Argyll & Bute, Scotland. Sadly, Linnhe’s mother was killed on a nearby road. In light of this he was taken to the vets in Oban and was later collected by the Scottish SPCA. After settling in and being paired with River, it was decided that both young otters would be moved to the IOSF Sanctuary on the Isle of Skye.

Latest River and Linnhe News!

These two energetic youngsters have settled into life at the Sanctuary well! There are frequent squabbles over who gets the first fish when delivered, and their pool is in need of frequent filling, as they have developed a habit of emptying it during play time!

River Arrival
Feb 2024
Linnhe Arrival
Feb 2024
<River and Linnhe>
Feb 2024
River
Feb 2024

Louis and Maggie

Louis

Arriving with us first was Louis, a young male Eurasian otter, who was only around 10 weeks old when he was found on the Isle of Harris, in the Scottish Western Isles. After initial care by the SSPCA he made his way to us and initially gave us a few troubles as he was reluctant to eat regularly. After some stressful weeks, Louis’ appetite picked up, and the change in his persona was immediate. Now a bag of energy, he can often been seen tearing around his enclosure, on the hunt for trouble - with his new friend Maggie!

Maggie

Maggie, a female Eurasian otter, was also around 10 weeks old when she was discovered in a stable after a river burst its banks during the destructive Storm Babet (October 2023). After initial care at Blyth Wildlife Rescue Centre, Maggie made the move to our Isle of Skye Sanctuary, and spent a short time settling in before being introduce to the energetic Louis. Usually there is an initial frosty period when young otters meet for the first time at the Sanctuary, but not this time! From the word go this pair have been inseparable, and love exploring every last bit of their enclosure.

Latest Louis and Maggie Update

These two otters are pure energy. Frequently seen from a distance splashing around in their pool or rolling around playing in their enclosure - it is safe to say they are inseparable. It really is fantastic to see how Louis and Maggie are adapting to life at the Sanctuary, and we can’t wait to give you more updates on their progress in the future.

Louis
Oct 2023
Louis
Oct 2023
Maggie (SSPCA)
Oct 2023
Maggie (SSPCA)
Oct 2023
Louis
Nov 2023
Louis
Nov 2023
First Meet
Jan 2024
First Meet
Jan 2024
Louis and Maggie
Jan 2024
Louis and Maggie
Jan 2024
Louis
Feb 2024

Bealltainn

Bealltainn (named after the Gaelic May Day Festival) is a female Eurasian otter from the Isle of Mull. She came to the Sanctuary at around 6/8months old after initial care from Mull Otter Group, having been found on the first of May 2020. When she was found she had been living off vegetation, and didn’t appear to show the signs of an otter that understood how to hunt for herself. This has been shown in her time at the Sanctuary also, with a reluctance to use her pool being one of the main concerns for a release. She also doesn’t dig around her enclosure, like most other young otters who are ready to head out into the wild do!

Latest Bealltainn News!

Let the sunbathing begin! The start of March has seen Bealltainn come out of hiding, and Grace managed to get this quick photo of her whilst delivering the daily fish! She is looking great!

Eden and Winston - Released!

Eden and Winston are both young male Eurasian otters. First, Eden arrived with us at around 3 months old after being found alone, lying on a road in the open moorland of the Eden District, Cumbria, England. After a short time with Kendal College Animal Rescue Centre (KCARC) he made his way north to our Isle of Skye Sanctuary. Shortly after this, Winston arrived from the Isle of Lewis! He was a similar age to Eden, and was also found by a roadside after his mother was killed by a car.

Latest Eden and Winston Update

With your help this pair of young male Eurasian otters have now returned to the wild. After a successful period in rehabilitation with IOSF, the inseparable pair have been released together in a quiet Island place away from many people.

From the initial finders who ensured they had a second chance, to those who sponsored their food and bedding at the Sanctuary, and everyone in between - We would like to thank everyone that made Eden and Winston’s time in rehabilitation a positive one!

Eden (KCARC)
Feb 2023
Eden (KCARC)
Feb 2023
Winston Found
March 2023
Eden (IOSF)
April 2023
Eden
April 2023
Eden
April 2023
Winston
June 2023
Eden’s tail
June 2023
Eden
Nov 2023
Release
Mar 2024
Release
Mar 2024

In order to have the best possible chance at a return to the wild, we do not allow visitors to the Sanctuary. This is to minimise their interactions with humans and maintain their wild instincts. All otters that come into the Sanctuary for rehabilitation are here with a view to release in the future, unless this is not possible.