Virginia Navy Base Staff In Disbelief After Finding Two Wild Babies Waiting At Their Door
Wildlife sightings aren’t usually on the agenda at the Little Creek Navy Base in Norfolk, Virginia.
So when something unusual showed up outside one of the administrative buildings, it caught everyone’s attention. Curled up right by the door were two tiny baby otters, each no bigger than a mitten.
Their small, worried faces peeked out, scanning their unfamiliar surroundings, and it was clear they were far too young to be out in the world on their own.
At first, the staff hoped that their mother was close by, maybe just waiting for the right moment to return. But as the hours stretched into a full day, that hope began to fade.
That’s when the call went out to Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge. If these pups had any chance at survival, they needed expert care immediately.
When the rescue team arrived, their hearts dropped. At just 5 or 6 weeks old, otter pups should still be tucked away safely in a den, hidden from the dangers of the outside world.
The team scooped them up and rushed them into the hands of wildlife rehabber Cindy Lakin. They were given names: Cedar and Willow.
And from that moment forward, their story of survival truly began.
At Cindy’s care facility, Cedar and Willow were welcomed by four other orphaned otters, forming the cutest little family.
But the road ahead wasn’t easy. Both newcomers were thin, dehydrated, and weak. They needed fluids, medicine, and round-the-clock attention just to stabilize.
Day by day, though, progress came. With warm bedding, nutritious meals, and gentle hands guiding them, the pups began to turn a corner.
They gained weight, started eating well, and slowly began showing the playful spark otters are so famous for.
Before long, they were splashing in shallow pools, learning how to chase after fish, and wrestling with their newfound friends.
Watching them was enough to melt anyone’s heart. They darted through the water like little rockets and never seemed to tire of tumbling around with each other.
And that’s exactly what these babies needed: fun, safety, and the chance to just be otters again.
The ultimate goal, though, is bigger than playtime. Once they’re fully grown, Cedar, Willow, and their companions will return to the wild where they belong.
The idea of watching them swim free in Virginia’s streams and marshes, strong and thriving, is the reward everyone has been working toward.
Soon, they’ll have the freedom they deserve. And all of it is thanks to the quick action of base staff who refused to look the other way, and to the rescuers who gave them a second chance at the life they almost lost.
These once-lost babies now stand a real chance of living wild, free, and fearless, exactly the way nature intended.
