How Billy met Molly - the orphaned otter who is now part of the family

In the picturesque Shetland Islands, a remarkable story unfolded when a couple, Billy and Susan Mail, found themselves caring for an orphaned otter cub named Molly. This heartwarming tale began on March 3, 2021, when Billy, a 57-year-old man, spotted the frail otter cub near his home, struggling to crack open crabs for food. The sight of the starving animal struck a chord with Billy, who had recently experienced the loss of both his parents. Nurturing Molly back to health not only brought joy back into his life but also inspired wildlife filmmaker Charlie Hamilton-James to document their extraordinary bond. The adventure began when Billy was relaxing at home and noticed the little otter diving off a nearby pontoon. Driven by curiosity, he approached the cub, only to find her surprisingly unafraid. 'Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to see how close I could get to it,' he recalled. When the otter cub sat beside him to eat, Billy sensed something was amiss. 'A wild otter should've run away at that point,' he thought. Knowing that a female otter had recently been found dead in the area, he surmised that Molly was her orphaned offspring. Despite her emaciated appearance, Billy learned from a local wildlife sanctuary that Molly was not sick, just desperately hungry. With the green light from his wife Susan, Molly officially became a member of the Mail family. The couple described Molly's arrival as a timely blessing. They had just returned to Shetland, where Billy grew up, after enduring the loss of his parents. To make matters more challenging, the coronavirus pandemic struck just as they were beginning to expand their home. 'Molly's arrival was a breath of fresh air for both of us,' Billy said. 'There was a lot of stuff happening at the time, and Molly turned up right in the middle of that. ' Susan, who is 59 and works as an airport manager, noticed a significant change in Billy's demeanor as he cared for Molly. 'Watching what he got back from helping an animal who needed it was incredibly emotive and touching,' she shared. Initially, Susan had a rocky start with Molly, as the playful cub would roll in her plant pots and chase her into the shed when Billy wasn't around. However, as she observed Molly's behavior, she realized that the otter was not aggressive at all. As time passed, Susan often found herself in the role of the 'bad cop' in their relationship with Molly. One day, she discovered a package filled with colorful plastic balls addressed to Billy. 'I thought, no chance, he's not bought these for her,' she said, only to find out that he had. Soon, Molly was happily playing in her own mini ball pool, a playful attempt by Billy to simulate the fun she would have with other otters in the wild. Instead of focusing on their long-overdue home extension, Billy constructed a miniature croft house for Molly, complete with a camera, Wi-Fi, and family photos. As their story gained attention, filmmaker Charlie Hamilton-James, who had been visiting Shetland since his teenage years, learned about Molly and reached out to meet the couple. 'I never knew who Charlie was,' Billy admitted. 'But it turns out he was one of National Geographic's top photographers. ' Charlie proposed turning their unique story into a film, and after some initial hesitation, Billy and Susan decided to embrace the opportunity. The documentary, titled 'Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story,' premiered in March at the South by Southwest festival in Texas. Susan was moved to tears when she saw the final cut, stating, 'My family says I'm the woman with the heart of stone, but I found it very emotional. ' The film has since won an award at Bristol's Wildscreen Festival and received nominations at the prestigious American Critics Choice Documentary Awards. Despite their deep affection for Molly, the couple understood that she was a wild animal. After spending months together, Billy made the difficult decision to stop feeding her, allowing her to learn how to fend for herself before the winter months. 'He knew when it was the right time to let her go,' Susan explained. Molly's visits gradually became less frequent until they stopped altogether, leaving Billy worried about her well-being during the harsh winter of 2022. However, one snowy night, their camera alerted them to a visitor in Molly's croft house. To their delight, Molly had returned, and she was not alone. 'We were really happy to see she was still alive, still thriving, and in really good condition. The bonus was that she was pregnant,' Billy shared. Molly gave birth to her own cub in the little house, and both she and her baby now visit the Mail family regularly. Reflecting on their experience, Susan remarked, 'The one thing Molly taught me was compassion. ' For Billy, Molly reignited his love for nature, which he had lost touch with over the years. 'To take this otter that was cute and cuddly, but in desperate need of help, and to feed her and nurture her through adolescence and help her develop into a fully-grown adult, then off she went and hung out with her own family - observing that circle of life happening but also being a part of it was incredibly rewarding,' he expressed. The documentary 'Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story' is available for streaming on Disney+ starting November 14 and will air on the National Geographic channel on November 15.