The tiny mammal sneaked into Borders General Hospital and wandered up to a nurses’ reception desk.
Disbelieving staff gave chase, at first catching him with a towel.
However, as charge nurse Julia Kerr explained: “Never having held a baby otter before, we didn’t realise how quick they are.
“He bit my colleague’s finger, jumped out of her arms and zipped out into the car park.”
She added: “One of my colleagues then saw him on CCTV. He sped right across the car park at a busy time and we were concerned he would be run over.”
Colleague Samantha Ballantyne – who made a quick recovery after having her finger nipped – attempted to catch the pup as he ran back inside the unit.
“We managed to get him into a confined space,” said Julia.
“We then put him in a box, but he ran out the other end.”
By this time Julia’s husband, Dave, had arrived. Julia added: “Dave had a sack in the car so he got that and we managed to get him in there.”
She added: “The hospital is right next to a busy bypass and I was concerned that the pup’s mum had been killed.”
The nurses called the local Arthurshiel Rescue Centre and were advised to take the otter – – which has since been named Kerr – round to them.
The centre staff liaised with a specialist sanctuary on Skye, where Kerr is now being looked after. He will be released into the wild once fully grown.
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