When the aquarium gets a report of a stranded otter, we go observe the animal to see if it needs help. If it does, we'll capture it and bring it in to our care facility. Some otters are brought to us by other agencies, including the SPCA, the Marine Mammal Center and the California Department of Fish and Game. How to report a stranded otter . Orphaned or injured pups are often washed up on the beaches.
Older animals haul out on their own when they're ill or injured.
But not all otters you see on the beach are sick or injured. Only a veterinarian or trained wildlife rehabilitator can determine this. We look for obvious injuries and watch to see whether the otter is having trouble moving or breathing. If it's a pup, we look for its mother first, to verify that it's an orphan. Not every otter on the beach is ill or injured.