AN OTTER cub found alone and crying was rescued after being flooded out of her den when Storm Imogen hit the West country this week.

The cub who has been called Immy, short for Imogen after the storm, by wildlife rescuers was spotted washed up with her sibling on a river bank in Stonehouse, on Sunday, February 7.

She is now being cared for at Secret World Wildlife Rescue in Somerset.

When the rescuer found Immy and her sibling he quickly called Oak and Furrows rescue centre in Wiltshire for help.

He then went back to find the young cubs – but they were gone. He did not give up on them and began to search. About 100 yards further down the river he spotted the cubs on the bank.

Climbing down, he managed to rescue one of the cubs and brought it up to safety.

When he went back down to get the other cub he was distressed to find that the young otter was gone. Sadly the cub has not yet been found.

Immy has gone to Secret World where animal carer Josie Nott is caring for her.

“She’s been through a rough experience, but thanks to the quick actions of her finder, Immy is doing really well now,” said Josie.

“She’s about six weeks old we think.

“I’m feeding her with a puppy milk replacement every couple of hours, and although she’s lost some weight since being rescued, I’m really pleased that she’s now putting it back on again.

“She’s a feisty little girl, and very playful and noisy with her high-pitched peeping.

“At first she seemed anxious but now she’s bright, healthy and likes to give me a good nip.

“Young otters usually move on to eating fish at about eight weeks so we’re waiting for her to give us the sign that she’s ready.

“We’re really hoping that her sibling will be found and they can be reunited.

“Otters are social creatures when young and it is heart-breaking that she is on her own at the moment.

“She likes to play, and it’s important that I spend time playing with her as that’s what she’d be doing with her brothers and sisters in the wild.”

Secret World relies on donations to rescue, rehabilitate and release orphaned otters and other wildlife. Visit www.secretworld.org