Otters

[Vidar]

I just walked into 4 otters. One huge one (freaking seal size!), and 3 seemingly semi-adults.

Every encounter before with adult otters they have run away promptly. Not these. They had a quick discussion in otterish, then the huge one placed itself in between me and the smaller ones. It stayed right there until all the others were gone. Then it rushed off after them. Guessing a mother with her litter.  No hurry on my part so I just gave them space and time to discuss and move away. Still a very interesting difference from previous behaviours.

Come to think of it I walked into an elk with calf a few years ago, and that was very different. The mother ran away from both me and the calf. If the calf wasn't afraid before it sure was then! (I was worried too! A mother elk with calf is not a combination I want to meet).

[Farmer X]

Pretty cool! The only wildlife I'm apt to see are squirrels and raccoons. Squirrels don't bother me too much. The same cannot be said of raccoons.

[AzteCypher]

I wish we had squirrels over here.  They'd eat all the acorns that are littered across our front yard.  Do see plenty of mice, rats, doves, hawks, falcons, raccoon, and possums.  No otters near us unfortunately.  Probably for the best as my wife would probably try to domesticate one.   

[Vidar]

Squirrels are great! And they have quite different personalities too which is interesting. We don't have raccoons, but they do look all cute and innocent... Looks might deceive though?

Probably for the best as my wife would probably try to domesticate one.   

No chance with the ones around here as they are very shy. They are pets in a few countries I believe, although I imagine smaller species. Chaos, crazy energy, sleep and action all around I would think.

We have tracks of a small stout kitten around the house which I hope to meet soon. They are usually not shy, crazy energetic, and tend to get fairly comfortable with people. And they are curious. They will sometimes come up close to better observe whatever you are doing. Very fun animals - as long as you're not an animal or bird in their prey size...

[Farmer X]

Yes, a raccoon's looks are very deceiving. They are insolent and destructive little smurfbirds who host all manner of parasites.

[Vidar]

Well, looks can be deceiving. Maybe they even got the cute looks to better deceive? Survival of the cutest. (I think that might actually be a thing? Most animal young ones tend to look all cute and fluffy).

Reminds me of seals. Cute looks but bad fish breath, noisy barking, and not too shy about biting. Then again, seals likely don't think too highly about humans so maybe fair enough.