Meshik, Orphaned Sea Otter Pup, Rescued By Alaskan Beachgoers (VIDEO)

An orphaned sea otter pup named Meshik has a new chance at life thanks to residents of an Alaska town who rescued him from the beach where he was huddled next to his dead mother, Channel 2 News reports.

Residents of Port Heiden, Alaska, were walking along Meshik Beach on March 12 when they discovered a deceased Northern sea otter and her surviving pup, a three-week old male.

After calling the Alaska SeaLife Center, community members took turns caring for the pup until it could be flown to the center, which is the only permanent facility in Alaska for stranded animals.

A week later, Meshik is thriving at the center's wildlife rehabilitation program, where employees feed him a high calorie squid-and-clam formula about every three hours, according to the center's website.

Wildlife workers hope to place Meshik at a facility in the lower states in about six to eight weeks time, Husbandry Director Brett Long told the Associated Press.

Watch the ASLC's report on Meshik above.