Otters are one of the most universally adored animals on this planet. Whether you found out about them at an aquarium, through Finding Dory, or when Travis Kelce mentioned wanting to rescue one, you probably love them.
A big draw for people is that they hold hands while they sleep so that they don’t drift away from each other. They have such cute little hands, too:
Otter with paws up, floating in the ocean. Image via Shutterstock / Delpixel
Unfortunately, though, hand-holding won’t always stop them from from getting separated. Sometimes, things happen, and the best they can hope for is to find their way back to each other.
For one precious pair of otters, it took a long time, but they did it. As soon as her baby was rescued, this mama otter was ready to grab onto him and never let go again:
According to NBC San Diego, rescuers found this poor otter pup stranded in the ocean. His mom was nowhere to be found, and the rescuers were super concerned! They were able to record clips of him crying, and they played them back, eventually managing to locate his mother.
When she saw him, she started crying, too! Luckily, they were able to get the two of them back together immediately, and she got right to work checking to make sure he was okay. Then she pulls him in close and pushes off of the boat! Thank goodness!
Related: Otter Who ‘Thinks She’s a Baby’ Has Everyone Desperate to Hold Her Hand
The rescuers named the sweet baby “Caterpillar” because he’s so fluffy, but they didn’t tag him or anything, so there aren’t any updates about him and his mom since this. Hopefully, the two of them are living their best lives. Maybe he’s learned to hold on a little better!
Otters Are Very Protective of Their Young
The mama otter in this video was very grateful to have her baby returned to her, and the rescuers came to no harm. However, if you ever run into a similar problem, you need to be careful. Otters may look cute, but they can be aggressive, especially when they feel they or their young are being threatened.
If you see a baby otter who definitely needs some help:
If you can’t find her, stay nearby and keep an eye on them while you call your local wildlife center.
If they’re actively in danger and it’s safe, professionals may advise that you go and pick them up, but don’t do so unless told to.
Thank goodness that Caterpillar made it into safe hands quickly. I’m so happy he got to go back to his mom!
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This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Nov 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.