On July 28, officers at Alert Bay’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police department received a call about an injured otter lying on the ‘Namgis Dock in Alert Bay, a village on Cormorant Island in British Columbia.
Locals had heard sounds of distressed animals and found three young otters entangled in various sections of a fishing net left behind on the dock.
The residents successfully freed two of the otter pups, which immediately returned to the water and reunited with their mother, who had been waiting nearby.
The third otter, however, was found in critical condition with the fishing net wrapped around its neck and restricting its breathing.
Gordon Mellish, a retired commercial fisher and carver, was one of the locals on the scene. He cut away the remaining fishing net but sadly realized the otter was unresponsive.
Gordon Mellish. Courtesy of Alert Bay RCMP
Then he began performing CPR on the small river otter, putting his mouth over the critter’s tiny snout and giving it “the breath of life.” It worked.
“Demonstrating remarkable composure and compassion, the resident performed CPR on the animal and successfully restored its breathing,” a press release from the Alert Bay RCMP said.
Mellish’s skill and determination saved the life of the juvenile otter.
“I got a call from my niece and her husband,” Mellish recounted to Vancouver Sun. “They went down to the old breakwater because they thought they could hear children crying and screaming.”
When Mellish realized he’d be dealing with otters, he rubbed fish oil on his hands so his scent would be more familiar to the animals.
Once he noticed the otter beginning to regain consciousness, he knew the CPR was working.
By then, police were on-site and contacted a local wildlife rescue, Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society, which then coordinated the safe transport of the injured otter to its wildlife rehabilitation facility.
Constable Nick Gachter assesses the otter prior to placing it in the recovery position on its belly. Courtesy of Alert Bay RCMP
Mellish was able to give the otter a pet before it was taken into care.
“It was so neat to have that moment,” he told the Vancouver Sun. “And then I just told her, ‘Get rest, get better, and make sure you make it back home.’”
After a week of rest and veterinary care, the otter was ready to be released back into the wild, where onlookers later saw the whole otter family reunited again. Mellish was on the beach to wish his new animal friend well.
“Before she went to swim away, she got about half her body into the water, she turned back, looked at me,” Mellish said. “We both made eye contact and she nodded her head. And then she went away.”
The otter recovers. Robin Quirk/Alert Bay RCMP
Local officials praised Mellish and the other locals for their efforts.
“The Alert Bay RCMP would like to recognize the quick thinking, teamwork, and dedication of the local residents whose actions helped save the young otter’s life,” the press release reads.
“Their response is an outstanding example of how community members can make a meaningful difference when they take action to protect local wildlife.”
That being said, local officials also reminded area residents how important it is to ensure they clean up after themselves and are mindful of the wildlife on the island.
“Cormorant Island is home to many species of wildlife, and we all have a role to play in keeping them safe,” Sergeant David Ribeiro-Pereira, detachment commander at Alert Bay RCMP, said.
“This incident serves as an important reminder that properly securing and storing fishing gear can help prevent unnecessary harm to animals and protect the wildlife that makes our community so special.”
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Featured Image: Courtesy of Alert Bay RCMP
