Cuz life just floats by.
Sea Otters live in close communities called rafts. Can you see the babies floating on their mamas? Hint: they are the brown fuzzy bumps with little faces resting on their mama’s bellies? (CLick to enlarge for better optics).
Like all communities with time on their hands, gossip can be a problem.
“If you say this one more time, Edna, I swear, I will cover my ears!”
A new human like me, is easily noticed.
“Who are you odd human, and why are you staring at me?”
Discussing the merits of tonight’s seafood dining options, Earle makes the best suggestion.
Otter newlyweds with their new pup float happily together.
Single mom’s seem quite content on their own.
While bachelor & bachelorette otters can float anywhere they want and may be the happiest otters of all.
Eventually babies get fed up with resting on top of mom, and just float off on their own looking for adventure.
Rarely, an otter just can’t keep going along lazily with the group, he has to break out, be an individual, kick his web-footed heels to the sky!
Cheers to you from the happily floating (and kicking) Morro Bay Sea Otters in California~
Note: Sea Otters were nearly hunted to extinction in the 1800’s for their fur. Populations are slowly recovering, but otters are still an endangered species and are threatened by fish net entanglement, oil spills, and boat strikes.
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Beautiful photos, Cindy. I love watching these guys. I think you nailed the conversations, too 🙂
I know it is rude to eavesdrop but I couldn’t stop myself!
So AD-OR-AB-LE 💕
You captured their sweet nature so well Cindy!
They are so much fun to watch. They move in unison like schools of fish! ( ･ὢ･ )
Wonderfully playful scenes. I suppose you know the joke about tarka dal which is just like any other dal, but a little ‘otter.
Tee hee hee! Perfect and I hadn’t heart it! ( ･ὢ･ )
We were in Morro Bay many years ago and I remember talking to a man on the docks and he was saying the otters were so troublesome – they gnawed the ropes and set the boats free…..often. LOL
Precious creatures.
Oh that is hilarious! I had no idea! They look so mellow! ( ･ὢ･ )
😂
Aw, the life of a Sea Otter – Happy Floating! And Happy Day to you Cindy. 🙂
We all could use a few years of peaceful floating! ( ･ὢ･ )
These otters are adorable, Cindy. A floating cocktail party! 🙂 I can see why their colonies are called rafts.
Sea Lions do this too. You can see them clumped together out way out at sea sleeping, with their flippers sticking up like flags!
These are amazing. Big lens or did you get really close?
I used two cameras so a bit of both. The individual shots had more telephoto and the group shots much less.
Well, they are wonderful. I love sea otters.
( •̀ ω•́ )
I would love to be an otter and just drift with the tides ❤
You and me both! It looked extremely peaceful! ( ･ὢ･ )
Just float on my back, nary a care… I’m in 🙂
Oh wow!!!
That is exactly what I said when I first saw them! ( ･ὢ･ )
Reblogged this on SUSANNE LEIST.
The ( ･ὢ･ )’s and I thank you for supporting these vulnerable creatures Susanne & cheers to you my friend~ <3
Soooo coooool. Nay-cha. Absolutely amazing.
Nay-cha rocks! So happy you agree my friend~ ( ･ὢ･ )
What a gorgeous happy floating life! 🙂 <3 🙂 Lovely, lovely shots, Cindy!
Please let me quote Richard Bach and say:
You [Americans] are game-playing, fun-loving creatures; you are the otters of the universe.
Have a relaxing evening,
hugs from Norway from the four of us,
Dina x
I love this sobriquet! I would love to be the otter of the universe as they do spend the bulk of their time doing my three favorite things, sleeping, eating and playing! ( ･ὢ･ ) Cheers to you Dina and thank you! <3
I’ll join you! 🙂
( •̀ ω•́ )
Such cute critters. That must be a blast watching them 🙂
It is endlessly entertaining! They are super curious and quite funny~ ( ･ὢ･ )
They look so adorable Cindy, what a treat to witness them like this :o)
It was indeed, otterly wonderful! ( ･ὢ･ )
Haha! :o)
This is one of my favorite of your posts. Otters are my absolute favs among critters. I loved your bit of gossip. So much cuteness, how could anyone kill them for fur?
I remember reading ‘Islands of Blue Dolphins’ as a child. The otters were friendly and curious about people and swam up to meet them when they were met by the hunter’s clubs. Not a good reflection on our species and impossible for me to understand when you see them in the wild watching you! ( ･ὢ･ )
Hi Cindy,
I enjoyed this momentary “time-out” playtime with the otters. 🙂 Also, thanks for connecting me again with Morro bay. I have some fond memories of being there. Aloha, Ka
I love the laid back vibe of Morro Bay. It reminds of The Amalfi Coast with a bigger bay and more wildlife! So pleased to trigger good memories! Aloha~ ( ･ὢ･ )
Darling!
( ･ὢ･ )
Soooo much cuteness!
CFO! Cuteness factor overload! ( ･ὢ･ )
I remember the first time I read a book by Jane Goodall. I was 18. My greatest takeaway that has been with me through the years, was her belief that we could learn a great deal about humanity from listening and following our fellow creatures. “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help shall all be saved.” Jan Goodall. Hugs coming your way.
I admire her so! Check this out Rebecca:
Wonderful quote, Cindy. It applies to so much that is wrong with our world today. While I always like your posts, these last two were heartwarming. My little dog has a flatter but similar face (and head tilts to indicate interest and attention), so I respond to these pictures viscerally. The blogging community is fortunate that you are such a great photographer and are willing to take us along. THANKS!
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
Sea otters always look beautifully fluffy, but I wonder if their coat is slightly greasy to keep water out, like sheep? I sooo want to one day visit them in their natural environment and float them float peacefully. <3
I swear observing them lowers blood pressure and corti-steroid levels, even more than watching Koi! Two good places to find them are Morro Bay and Monterey Bay.
<3
Have to wonder how someone can be so adorable and then you see a whole lot of cuteness all in one place and it’s hard to imagine that they would be upset if we went into the water to give them hugs and kisses. LOL Just wonderful. So very sweet.
They are CCOF. Cuteness, cleverness, overload factor! ( ･ὢ･ )
I loved, loved these photos! I think otters are among the most amusing mammals – could watch them all day long! And yes, I think I could enjoy that life, just floating along, baby on top, thinking about dinner!
Floating, snoozing, eating, works real well for me too! ( ･ὢ･ )
We really otta be ottahs. Perhaps then we will understand what it is like to be hunted for no good reason but to look good. Awesome post Cindy – thanks for sharing these amazing visuals.
Exactly! The more species I see in the wild, the less I understand our species penchant for killing for fun. It makes us the least civilized of all the wild creatures~
True 🙁
What great photos. The otters are such lovely creatures. 🙂
They are otterly lovely! ( •̀ ω•́ )
Wonderful pics of such loveable creatures … I saw a documentary on them years ago, and particularly loved shots of them floating on their backs as in your pics, holding little stones in their little hands… there was probably a reason, but thirty years on, it escapes me… maybe I’ll Google ‘Why do otters…..”
They use stones to crack open mollusk shells! Smart little guys~ ( •̀ ω•́ )
Reblogged this on Journal Edge and commented:
Article Source: cindyknoke.com
I am so sorry I missed this comment. It was in my wordpress spam filter. I am touched and honored by your kindness Vikas. Thank you sincerely!
Dear Cindy, Its ok, but really you are so kind and innocent. and the way you write I love that 🙂 good luck have a good day 🙂 Namastae!!
Namaste my friend~
Namaste ji !!
What a super fun post Cindy– these guys are adorable! I didn’t know you’d find such a big group of them together!! Happy travels!! are you still up the coast?? xox
So happy you enjoyed Rhonda. I was amazed to see so many otters so close. Quite wonderful really. We are home now, otherwise I would probably still be with the otters!! 😉
Hi Cindy– well, welcome home! thanks for taking your photos along the way for us… so lively and fun! xox
Have a wonderful weekend Rhonda! <3
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this … it was a much-needed reprieve and brought a smile to my face. 🙂
We need reprieves, smiles and awareness of the goodness that is around us in order to stay sane in insane times~ ( •̀ ω•́ )
Reblogged this on firefly465.
Thank you sincerely for supporting the vulnerable ( •̀ ω•́ )’s!
This is what I call ‘enjoying life’ 😀 Wish I were an otter for a while…
Yes. Exactly what I thought!
Good Morning Cindy, oh they are just precious.. love them..Happy Day!!
Sherri
Reblogged this on Above The Crowd Shopping, Sherri Of Palm Springs and commented:
beautiful, love them Cindy!!!
We need a little ( •̀ ω•́ ) magic these days! Be well my friend~
Cindy, thank you, I saw a program and it had a story on the otters, lovely to see your photos, I adore these sweet marauders of fishing boats ropes! LOL, I see that as payback we humans are still killing them.
Love n hugs
A blogger told me about the otters gnawing through boat tie ups. They are setting the boats free to float like they do! They can’t stand seeing them tied up, just like Amy Tan’s fisherman who was saving fish from drowning! ( •̀ ω•́ )
Pictures are great but the title is PERFECT too! 🙂
Ahhh, thank you, so glad you enjoyed!!! ( •̀ ω•́ )
Excellent photos wonderful captions. You must have a powerful camera.
Merci beaucoup mon ami! The otters actually were quite close and didn’t seem the least bit afraid of people which was remarkable~ ( •̀ ω•́ )
I LOVE otters … almost as much as I love owls! Beautiful photos, Cindy!
Otters & owls! I love them both too! ( •̀ ω•́ )
They are funny animals. what a live they have!
Floating, eating and sleeping works for me! ( •̀ ω•́ )
Utterly delightful!
They are otterly so!! ( •̀ ω•́ )
Cindy, you are a wealth of knowledge and fun facts! This is a topic I never tire of. Great shots, BTW! 🙂
We need some ( •̀ ω•́ ) smiles! Hugs to you~ <3
They are comically endearing!
I think the sea going ones may be a little more laid back than your river ones! ( •̀ ω•́ )
Well that is just the cutest post. I love watching otters. One can’t help but smile.
We need smiles these days! Happy the ( •̀ ω•́ )’s brought you some!
I agree Cindy. Your post should be mandatory daily viewing. 🙂
I am so sorry I missed this comment. It was in my wordpress spam filter. You are very kind Sue and much appreciated!
What cuties!
( •̀ ω•́ )
LOL
Truly a magical scene. Ah, to be perfectly content just to be with your family! Such snuggle bugs <3
I think wild animals often seem to have their priorities a bit more clear than us muddled humans often do. They also seem to be more playful. So happy you enjoyed them! ( •̀ ω•́ )
I completely agree and look forward to your fine photographs. 😍
Thank you, this is very kind of you~ <3
Cute… cute… cute… I love them 🙂
xo <3
( •̀ ω•́ ) <3
What great pictures! I love otters, they are so cute and enjoy life with such a great expression! Thanks for sharing.
So many wild animals seem to enjoy life more consistently than humans often do. They play a lot! ( •̀ ω•́ )
Qué simpáticas y divertidas son las nutrias. Me recuerdan los documentales de Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente que se emitieron por TVE hace ya muchos años. Un abrazo, Cindy <3
Busque en Google Felix. Suena maravilloso! Él ama a los animales salvajes como nosotros. Vítores y abrazos para ti mi querido amiga~ <3
Sí. Félix fue un pionero en divulgar el amor por la naturaleza. Es una pena que falleció en 1980 de accidente cuando rodaba un documental en Alaska. Un abrazo, Cindy <3
<3 <3
Sweet creatures!
( •̀ ω•́ ) <3
I love otters – and you took some fantastic pictures of them…
…and I think they are hard to photograph, because they are so quick.
They generally like to keep their distance too, so this was a very special treat! So happy you enjoyed them! ( •̀ ω•́ )
Yes. I did very much.
Makes me happy! Cheers to you my friend~ <3
How can one not smile when watching sea otters? 😀 !!!!
( •̀ ω•́ )
I know the feeling…. spent many an hour floating in the ocean or in a pool in my younger days… very calming… more people should try it!
Ditto for me! Grew up by the ocean and was in it constantly~