Sea Otters Hold Hands While Sleeping and They Even Cuddle

While the habit is relatively rare, it provides a unique window into the social lives of these much-loved marine mammals.

By Lily Carey
Apr 16, 2024 1:00 PM
Two Otters Floating Hold Paws
(Credit: Erin Donalson/Shutterstock)

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You may have seen it on social media, or even at an aquarium — sea otters cuddling and even holding hands (or rather, paws) while sleeping. 

Sea otters have long been beloved for their fuzzy coats and rambunctious personalities, but when a video of two sea otters holding paws while sleeping at the Vancouver Aquarium went viral in 2007, people around the world began to associate this heart-warming image with otters. 

Sea Otters Holding Hands

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