Wildlife photography of a pair of Northern River Otters resting together on the banks of the Yellowstone River in Winter

Two Northern River Otters take a break from fishing to enjoy each other’s company in softly falling snows along the banks of the Yellowstone River. A winsome species, River Otters frolic and tumble in family groups, challenging all theories of non-human play, racing up snowy hills again and again simply to slide down and plunge into the river with a big splash at the bottom. But it’s not all fun and games for these impressive little predators. They can move over snow at up to 15 miles per hour, alternately running, hopping and sliding. Under water, their eyes and nostrils close and their whiskers aid in location of prey such as fish, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, and sometimes an unwary duck or muskrat.