Santon and Storm left stranded by severe weather
A pair of otter cubs left stranded as a result of separate river storm surges have become firm friends after meeting at an RSPCA wildlife centre in Cheshire.
A shivering, 12-week-old female cub was taken in and cared for by the owners of a pub called Santon Bridge in Holmerook, Cumbria, on January 12, after they discovered her shivering in a barn at the back of their pub.
For the next couple of days, the pub's chef reportedly served up dishes of herring and salmon for the cub, who has since been named Santon.
Lee Stewart, centre manager at RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, said: "Santon was found along the River Irt following a massive storm just after New Year. The raging river must have washed the cub downstream following the heavy rains, separating her from her mother.
"The cub was found in a barn at the back of the pub all forlorn, cold and shivering. The owners of the pub took her in and cared for her over the next couple of days before calling the RSPCA."
Another orphaned cub, aptly named Storm, was discovered on Boxing Day by a member of the public who heard loud squeaking noises whilst out walking near the banks of an estuary in Gwynedd.
The pair have since been introduced and according to the RSPCA are getting along well and enjoying a diet of trout.
Mr Stewart added: "The next stage will be to send them to the New Forest Wildlife Park where they will remain until they are big and independent enough to fend for themselves. When ready they will be returned back to the wild."
The charity is reminding members of the public to monitor baby wild animals before touching them to ensure they are genuinely orphaned or abandoned, as often the mother is nearby waiting.
Image courtesy of RSPCA.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
