This is amazing. In seven years of watching otters on my trail cameras I had never seen a cub being suckled until just over a week ago. And now it has happened again - twice, and with two different cubs. The cubs are now seven and a half months old, nearly full grown, and they should be independent in perhaps about 10 weeks time. Last time the cub with a foot injury was the one suckling and I wondered if it might be for comfort. The next time it was the injured cub again and I think mother was more interested in grooming herself and the cub.
The latest episode was with one of the others. Mother had been grooming herself for about a minute before the cub turned up and the grooming and suckling went on for another two minutes.
The injured cub sticks closer to the mother than the other two who are noticeably more independent. It will be fascinating to see how things develop over the next few weeks.
Just saying thanks for all these fabulous clips of Mustelids. Keep 'em coming.
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