Mani the otter cub who arrived last autumn from Orkney is about to head out to the wild once the weather has calmed down. He’s more than ready to go, but March is the toughest month for wildlife at the end of a long winter with food supplies at their lowest. So now we’re just waiting for this wind to ease and spring to finally arrive…and then he can go! #draatsie

Last Sunday we received a call about this adult male otter who was curled up outside a house in Scalloway. The next morning he had disappeared but two days ago he was discovered in a back garden in Trondra eating frogs from a pond. He had clearly managed to swim across to the island, but something was clearly wrong as he seemed to be dragging his back legs. Fortunately today, with the help of wildlife vet nurse Lisa Trueman, we managed to catch him and take him to Scalloway Vets where an X Ray revealed multiple fractures. He was severely undernourished and clearly in extreme pain and as there was no way to repair the damage the only option was to put an end to his suffering. It transpires that this otter was struck by a car about 10 days ago and seeing the injuries he had, it is extraordinary that he managed to survive for so long, even managing to swim across a considerable stretch of sea. Otters are the most incredible creatures and we are so lucky to have the abundant population we do here in Shetland. It’s just so sad how often they get hit by cars. #draatsie #rip

Last Sunday we received a call about this adult male otter who was curled up outside a house in Scalloway. The next morning he had disappeared but two days ago he was discovered in a back garden in Trondra eating frogs from a pond. He had clearly managed to swim across to the island, but something was clearly wrong as he seemed to be dragging his back legs. Fortunately today, with the help of wildlife vet nurse Lisa Trueman, we managed to catch him and take him to Scalloway Vets where an X Ray revealed multiple fractures. He was severely undernourished and clearly in extreme pain and as there was no way to repair the damage the only option was to put an end to his suffering. It transpires that this otter was struck by a car about 10 days ago and seeing the injuries he had, it is extraordinary that he managed to survive for so long, even managing to swim across a considerable stretch of sea. Otters are the most incredible creatures and we are so lucky to have the abundant population we do here in Shetland. It’s just so sad how often they get hit by cars. #draatsie #rip

So the grey seal season has finally come to an end after four and a half months with the release of young Ariel, the adventurous pup who was found 300 yards inland after somehow managing to climb up a small cliff in Cunningsburgh during a howling easterly gale in January. A smart cookie if ever there was one, she took no time to moult her fur, learn the ropes of eating fish independently and even demonstrated her climbing skills once again when she managed to haul herself out of an empty pool all by herself. We're still scratching our heads as to how she managed it. When it came to releasing her she showed no hesitation, though she struggled a little with the swell, hugging the shoreline until she built up the confidence to head out to sea and into the wild life she was always destined for. Unlike most of our rescued seals, she even developed a friendly relationship with Smudge, who now has the pool all to himself again. #selkie #¢sealpup #greyseal #shetland #wildlife

Dodie arrived at the sanctuary just one month ago. He was at death's door when he was found on the beach at Grutness by Sumburgh Airport. We weren't sure whether he would survive those first few days, so shallow and painful was his breathing. But these grey seals can be incredibly resilient when they want to be, and Dodie definitely wanted to be. It took him just over a week to recover from what we assume was a major lungworm infestation, though we only ever actually saw two or three of the little blighters. From that point, there was no turning back. As soon he was outside in the pools he started hoovering up the fish and piling on the pounds, and when we put him in the big pool with Smudge they made friends straight away. We had no hesitation about releasing him as soon as he reached a good weight. He hit the beach running, or the seal equivalent, and we barely had time to get a camera out before he made it into the water, surfaced once and promptly disappeared into the wild ocean for good where a full life awaits. Go Dodie go! #selkie #sealpup #greyseal #shetland #wildlife

The big day for Gossi and Charlie arrived at the weekend despite the rough weather. Both seals were more than ready to go, with Charlie weighing over 35 and Gossi over 40 kilos, enough to keep them going while they learn the ropes of finding their own meals in the wild, wild sea. Gossi had been found in Burra in late November less than a day old after being abandoned by his mum, while Charlie was rescued just one month ago after he was discovered in a terrible state of health on Whalsay. Charlie's recovery has been especially remarkable, once again demonstrating how strong these grey seals can be. We released them together on a beach in the lee of the southerly wind where they found enormous enjoyment playing in the bladderwrack, chasing each other through the seaweed before making their way further out to sea and by this morning they had disappeared. A good life awaits them out there in the wild. #selkie #sealpups #greyseals #shetland #wildlife

Pool party! Gossi having a great time with a life belt. This girl's definitely ready for the wild! #selkie #sealpup #greyseal #shetland #wildlife

Dodie, who was rescued less than two weeks ago when he was found close to death’s door with a terrible chest riddled with lungworm, has made a remarkable recovery. He’s even eating fish unaided. This week he was well enough to go outside so with the slight easing of the wind we took the opportunity, bagged him and popped him into one of the small pools next to Ariel. So all our seals are outside now, with Gossi and Charlie pretty much ready to go back to where they belong in the wild. Hurrah! #selkie #greyseal #sealpup #shetland #wildlife If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://www.hillswickwildlifesanctuary.org/donate/ Thankyou everyone x

Ariel the grey seal pup who arrived at the sanctuary last month is now outside in one of the wee pools where she is learning to eat fish, having steadfastly refused to touch them while inside the seal unit where all she did was gaze wistfully at her paddling pool and make a lot of noise. Now she’s out in the fresh air, she’s beginning to get the hang of it. #selkie #sealpup #greyseal #shetland #wildlife

We’re extremely happy and quite relieved to see Dodie still with us five days after he was rescued from Sumburgh. Yes…this is Dottie, but when we had a closer look we realised we’d made a mistake so we re-gendered his name. So…Dodie is not a happy seal. His chest still heaves with all the parasites in his lungs, but he appears to want to live so he’s putting up an amazing fight. This morning we found the first lungworm he’s coughed up so far. Tomorrow we plan to worm him properly after five days on antibiotics and decongestants. What a fighter he is! #selkie #sealpup #greyseal #shetland #wildlife