Otter cub rescued from frozen puddle makes miraculous recovery

A tiny otter cub found frozen in a puddle has miraculously survived after a North Devon charity stepped in with specialist care.

The otter, now known as Frosty, was on the brink of death when a concerned farmer in Lincolnshire spotted him in one of his fields.

Weighing just 800g, the weeks-old cub was initially cared for by staff at Wild Things Rescue in Lincolnshire. 

Recognising that he would require specialist care, they quickly contacted the UK Wild Otter Trust, based in Umberleigh.

Now, Frosty is thriving under the Trust’s care and has reached a healthy weight of 1.5kg.

Dave Webb, founder of the Devon charity, said Frosty’s chances of survival were incredibly low due to the conditions he was found in.

“It’s not uncommon for us to get a call about an abandoned otter cub in need of rescue, only to be informed it’s sadly passed away before we’re able to reach it. Given that Frosty was found quite literally frozen into a puddle, we all thought the chances he’d survive were really low, but he’s a fighter, and he’s doing really well now,” Dave said.

The UK Wild Otter Trust has a network of volunteers across the country who help transport rescued cubs to its specialist facility in North Devon. 

The Trust also works with rescue organisations to secure the best possible outcome for otters, which are often abandoned or injured due to traffic accidents and habitat loss.

After more than a month in the charity’s care, Frosty is now ready to be paired with another rescued cub to give him the best chance of survival when he is finally released in about a year.

Dave said: “We rescued another cub, Steph, around the same time as Frosty, so they’re the perfect age to be paired. They’ll stay together in their enclosure with as little human intervention as possible for around a year, and then they’ll be old and healthy enough to survive in the wild on their own. We must pair them, so they learn as much otter behaviour from each other, without the mum they’d have in the wild.”

The charity relies on generous donations and community support to continue its work.