Two otter cubs are recovering after being swept away from their mother in heavy rain.
Elaine Bailey found the young animals clinging onto the side of a burn outside her home in Nairn on May 11.
Heavy rainfall had left the burn running faster than usual and the ten-week-old cubs were struggling to fight the current.
Ms Bailey and her husband watched as one of the cubs was swept away by the strong water. They called the Scottish SPCA who managed to rescue both animals and take them to their wildlife rescue centre in Clackmannanshire.
Ms Bailey said: "I heard what sounded like screaming and it was clear there was an animal in need of help so my husband and I went outside to have a look.
"The burn is usually very calm but it had become really wild after two days of non-stop rain and we found two baby otters desperately clinging on to the side. We had to watch as one of them was carried away by the current, which was so upsetting.
"Thankfully, after we called the Scottish SPCA for help their animal rescue officer was able to save the remaining cub and then find the one who had been washed away by following its cries."
The brother and sister, who have been named Flash and Flood, will be released back into the wild once they are able to fend for themselves.
Centre manager Colin Seddon said: "It's likely Flash and Flood have been separated from their mother during the recent bad weather.
"Otters usually remain with their parents until they're around a year old so these cubs are far too young to be on their own and wouldn't have been able to survive in the wild.
"Flash and Flood are very healthy and are really thriving in our care. They're being kept together which is ideal as otter cubs depend on interaction with their own kind to help them develop behaviourally.
"We take a hands off approach here as we need these youngsters to maintain their natural fear of humans so they can eventually be returned to the wild.
"Flash and Flood will remain with us for around nine months, at which point we're very hopeful we'll be able to release them back into their natural habitat."
Anyone who discovers an injured or distressed animal should call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.
Related articles
People who read this story also read
- American teenager found dead during research trip at Scots island
- Letters sent to 900 patients after dental clinic fails to meet standards
- Driver who sped through town with man on her bonnet blames her hormones
- Scots sweltering in the sun as hottest day of the year recorded
- Car firm Arnold Clark raises concerns with MSPs about education standards
To leave a comment, please sign in.