A meeting with the fascinating river otters

That morning, I went to explore a forest near my home on cross-country skis. I didn't really have a specific goal; I just wanted to enjoy this winter morning and the beautiful fresh snowfall. I left quite early in the hope of getting some good light, but it turned out to be rather cloudy and very, very windy. After a few kilometers of skiing, I finally arrived at a small lake in the heart of the forest. It's a place where I've previously observed many species of ducks, birds of prey, and even beavers. With this weather, I quickly realized that it wouldn't be easy to see if an animal was standing on the ice because of the small swirls of snow caused by the wind.

I had been following this body of water for quite some time when I suddenly noticed a small black spot on the lake. At first, I thought it was one of those simple pieces of wood, but when I analyzed it with my binoculars, I realized that an otter was on the ice at the other end of the lake.

I immediately put away my binoculars and set off at full speed on my skis. Despite all the excitement that was overwhelming me, I had to control myself, as an approach that was too noisy might scare them away.

Once I got near the spot where I had seen the otter, I noticed that it was no longer there. However, I discovered that there was a hole in the ice and a small piece of fish. It had surely fished and enjoyed its meal there. Rather than give up, I decided to blend in by lying down in the snow to see if it wouldn't come back a little later. The more time passed, the less hope I had that it would show up in front of me. After a few dozen minutes of waiting, as the cold began to penetrate me, an otter poked its head out of the hole and looked at me with an intrigued look.

Not seeming scared, she dove back into the water and then came out with another individual! I was now in front of two otters. I then obviously took several photos, but what I wanted was to capture the entire beauty of an otter and not just its small head (although it is very beautiful). Being able to watch these fascinating animals in the heart of the forest was a real privilege for me. About thirty minutes later, after a good moment of patience, an individual completely came out of the water and embarked on the ice, revealing all its splendor. Like a true acrobat, it ran, then slid on the snow.

I was freaking out. If I had told the Ulysses that very morning that I would be lying on a frozen lake with two otters playing right in front of me, I probably wouldn't have believed it! It was just after she went back into the water that I decided to leave and leave them alone. I was careful to leave the place the same way I arrived: slowly and calmly. That's how I returned to the forest by taking the path I had come back to. Being able to watch such a spectacle in perfect symbiosis with wild nature was an immense privilege for me and I am still grateful.