The Mother Otter Gives Pups First Hunting Lesson (Video)

A visiting male otter woos a female on the lake's shore.

But she seems a little distracted. Her two pups are nearby.

They're about 10 weeks old and the time is right to lead them from the holt.

Males are not above stealing food from cubs, so she makes it very clear that he is not

going to be joining them. This female grew up on the lake,

so she knows where to take the cubs for a very special trip.

Yellowstone cutthroat trout amassing in the mouth of a stream that feeds the lake.

They are preparing for their annual spawning. But the trout must wait.

The stream is still running fast, too turbulent to lay their eggs.

It's a nervous time for them, and for good reason.

This osprey has a brood to feed and will be back. Now the otters are here too.

She chooses her moment to lead the pups upstream. Then leaves them to watch

and gives them a lesson in hunting. A large trout like this,

full of eggs, is a trophy catch. She chews its tail first

to make sure the fish can't get away.

While the pups are still demanding milk, the mother otter will often

keep the whole fish for herself. Her pups are happy enough with caviar.

As the flow becomes slow enough for the trout to lay eggs,

there is a brief window of opportunity to spawn, before the river gets too shallow 

to swim upstream. The female digs a trough

with sinuous flicks of her body, and the attending male fertilises

the eggs as they are laid. Millions of new lives.

What a heartwarming scene! Otters are incredibly adept hunters, and watching a mother teach her pups the skills they need to survive must be both adorable and fascinating. It's not just about the act of hunting; it's a lesson in cooperation, patience, and persistence. Otters are known for their playful nature, so I imagine there might be some playful elements mixed in with the learning process as well. Nature has a beautiful way of teaching its young, doesn't it?