I saw an Otter in my backyard!

[AnimalFarm2006]

Crazy huh? I kept hearing this weird sqeaking noise and looked out into the water to see two VERY large otters trying to mate.

I live in virginia by a brackish water creek/river that runs out into the chesepeak bay. So seeing two otters was realy exciting! I called them giant Water ferrets.

Are otters even related to weasles at all? What kind do you think they were?

I think they are the ones with the flat nose. Not the cute sea kind that hold hands, and float on their backs.

[missylouwho]

That is so cool! I live in NJ on a salt water lagoon and every year for one day around the 4th of July we see two or three playing in the lagoon but just that one day. I absolutely love it and just watch them play for hours.

[StephyWolf]

They're both part of the Mustelidae family (aka the "weasel family") but split off when it gets down to genus. So... kind of?
I don't know if you've seen this video before (warning- Cute overload):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJjeG4ZFn6E
But if you watch the otter in there play they seem to play and move remarkably like ferrets when on land.

[AnimalFarm2006]

So they are related to ferrets in a way! ^.^ Man they are just TOO cute.