Meet the Sanctuary Otters!
Bella (female) and Drum (male) are young Eurasian otter siblings who were found alone, very close to a busy main road, near Ullapool in NW Scotland. The two otter cubs were spotted by someone heading to the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, who contacted our friend Noel Hawkins. Noel helped search for the cubs and contact IOSF. A decision was made to uplift them and get them to the local Conanvet Clinic in Ullapool for a check-up. Arrangements were then made to transfer them to our otter hospital on the Isle of Skye.
Despite the stress of ‘losing’ their mother, that evening the cubs were able to tuck into some salmon for their first meal since being picked-up, which is always a positive moment in any rescue.
Bella and Drum!
Drum
Bella
Latest Bella and Drum update!
September 2025
Bella and Drum have now moved to one of our outdoor enclosures, and we continue to monitor them from a distance. They have settled in well, and are now on two whole fish each a day!
Bealltainn
Bealltainn (named after the Gaelic May Day Festival) is a female Eurasian otter from the Isle of Mull. She came to the Sanctuary at around 6/8months old after initial care from Mull Otter Group, having been found on the first of May 2020. When she was found she had been living off vegetation, and didn’t appear to show the signs of an otter that understood how to hunt for herself. This has been shown in her time at the Sanctuary also, with a reluctance to use her pool being one of the main concerns for a release. She also doesn’t dig around her enclosure, like most other young otters who are ready to head out into the wild do!
Latest Bealltainn News!
July 2025
We all know now what the summer means for Bealltainn, hiding! During the months when the weather is slightly warmer, yes, even here on Skye, Bealltainn enjoys spending most of her time outside, amid the vegetation and rarely being spotted! Every so often, we see a tail or eyes peeking out, but most of the time we have to be content ourselves with disappearing fish and fresh spraint!
Tazzy and Timbit!
Timbit
Timbit is a young female Eurasian otter. He was found alone in the Appin area of the Scottish Highlands. After initial care in Fort William, she arrived the IOSF specialist care facility "The Sanctuary", still requiring feed by bottle (as you can see from the image). After a short period of time she moved onto small pieces of fish, and let us tell you.. she has quite the appetite!
Tazzy
Tazzy is a young male Eurasian otter. He was found at Gairlochy, Scottish Highlands, and after some food and warmth he became a very fiesty little otter, hence the name!
Latest Tazzy and Timbit update!
July 2025
Tazzy and Timbit have since inhabited the enclosure that was vacated by Dori and Queenie. As always, we need to do the necessary maintenance and allow a little bit of regrowth after Dori and Queenie’s destruction but when it was ready, so were Tazzy and Timbit. They have taken to their new enclosure like a duck otter to water and are loving their new life. They are rarely seen but discarded bits of fish and beautifully made trails show us that they are getting around their new, bigger enclosure! On one rare occasion when we did see them we had left them more fish as they were smaller so Tazzy grabbed two fish tails and ran off in delight with his prize. The two T’s are now in their final spot as they continue their rehabilitation. This will include minimum interference and allow them to grow into big, healthy adult otters!
Our most recent releases!
Edith!
Edith is a young female Eurasian otter. She was found alone in a "disorientated and wobbly" state, by the side of a dual-carriageway, near Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She was around 12 weeks old when she was found and weighed 1.4kg.
The initial part of Edith’s care was overseen by the Scottish SPCA and, as you can tell by the image of her stuffing her face with salmon, she settled in very well.
Latest Edith News!
October 2025
Edith is now back in the wild! Thank you to everyone who played a part in her journey from rescue to release!
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Edith - SSPCA
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October 2024
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October 2024
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October 2024
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November 2024
Dori and Queenie - Released May 2025
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Dori
(SSPCA)
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Dori
(SSPCA)
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Dori
(SSPCA)
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Dori + Queenie
April 2024
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Queenie
April 2024
Louis and Maggie - Released November 2024
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Louis
Oct 2023
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Louis
Oct 2023
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Maggie (SSPCA)
Oct 2023
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Maggie (SSPCA)
Oct 2023
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Louis
Nov 2023
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Louis
Nov 2023
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First Meet
Jan 2024
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First Meet
Jan 2024
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Louis and Maggie
Jan 2024
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Louis and Maggie
Jan 2024
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Louis
Feb 2024
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April 2024
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April 2024
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May 2024
River and Linnhe - Released October 2024
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River Arrival
Feb 2024
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Linnhe Arrival
Feb 2024
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<River and Linnhe>
Feb 2024
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River
Feb 2024
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May 2024
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May 2024
In order to have the best possible chance at a return to the wild, we do not allow visitors to the Sanctuary. This is to minimise their interactions with humans and maintain their wild instincts. All otters that come into the Sanctuary for rehabilitation are here with a view to release in the future, unless this is not possible.