By Daily Mail Reporter


Fast asleep: In this tender picture the pup looks utterly content as he floats along on his mother's belly


A mother otter shares a tender moment with her son as she carefully balances her dozing youngster on her belly while floating along the water.

It was in an estuary that she was spotted grooming and suckling her four-month-old child.

Eventually, her son dozed off while clinging to his mother for warmth. After a while the rare white otter rolled her boy into the water where he continued to sleep while afloat on his back.

With her son asleep, the mother took the moment of peace and quiet to dive underwater at Moss Landing, in California, and fish for clams.

Clinging on: Just like a human baby, the whelp enjoyed suckling his mother's milk before eventually dropping off


However, her efforts were interrupted when her youngster was taken away by the current and she had to keep breaking away from her fishing to tow her son back to safety.

Retired marine biology teacher Brian Maxwell captured the intimate moments while visiting an estuary with a friend.

The 69-year-old father of three, from Alaska, America, said: 'We were on a pleasure cruise when this really pretty mother popped up with her son.

'She was grooming him and he was suckling and eventually he just nodded off. It was quite cold so he stayed on her stomach to keep warm.

'It was amazing that the son was content to just fall asleep anywhere. They were really sweet and after a while the mother got hungry and rolled her son into the water so she could dive for clams.

'Her son remained asleep on his back while she went below the water's surface and came up with a clam that she would open and eat.


When the pup eventually dozed off his mother got on with some fishing, returning every now and then to check that her baby hadn't floated away


'However, in between her food runs she would have to grab her son and tow him back to safety because the current was pretty strong and kept taking him away.

'It was quite comical and a really special moment. The mother didn't mind us coming up quite close and she was there for about half an hour.'

Brian added: 'To spot a white otter is very rare so the incredible moment was made that bit more unique.

'In the end, the mum got about 12 clams and my friend and I were just relieved she was able to catch up with her baby before he strayed too far in the water.'


source:dailymail