No one likes to wake up from a good night’s sleep feeling grouchy, and Hana the otter is no different! Every morning, Hana greets the start of the day with a bit of a grumble.
Once she is out of her cozy den, however, Hana’s day quickly takes an unexpected turn.
Every day, she juggles for a few minutes to hone her skills and then spends time playing with toys in the house and in the pool. This combination of physical and mental activities helps her stay active and sharp.
Otters have an amazing capacity for learning, and Hana’s daily routine is an ideal way for her to show off her abilities.
Playing is also an important part of the otter’s daily routine, with Hana and Kotaro observed to engage in all sorts of activities, from chasing and wrestling, to playing hide-and-seek and even tag.
Hana’s day starts off with a unique custom: a second breakfast. Despite already having a half fish early in the morning after a swim in the pool, Hana finds the need to satisfy her hunger with the second half of the fish halfway through her day.
For some mysterious reason, Hana is the only otter who has a strong dislike for water hoses and anything that shoots water. As a result, she enjoys engaging in a battle with a small section of garden hose in order to take her anger out on it. She also glares angrily and grunts discontentedly at Kotsumet’s dad when he washes the porch with the hose or uses it to play with Kotaro.
Kotaro, on contrary, has a particularly unique way of interacting with his watery environment. He loves to be sprayed with water, whether it be from a hose or fountain, and will happily spend time playing with the hose nozzle and chasing the spray!
Hana loves to get pampered and is an affectionate cuddle monster, often curling up on her dad’s lap for grooming or a cozy nap.
Hana and Kotaro proved that even in a small space, two otters can have fun by hanging out in a water-filled bucket on the side of a larger pool. This behavior can be seen in many otters, demonstrating that even if there is only room for one otter, there must still be space for at least one more.
Hana is known to get quite playful when she finds a shirt or blanket, regularly carrying the fabric around in her mouth, bouncing and play-wrestling with it. She’ll roll around on her back, gripping the material with her teeth before joyfully bouncing around with it still in her mouth.
Kotaro’s Belly-Scratching Pre-Nap Ritual: Every day before he curls up for a nap, Kotaro can be found giving his belly a good scratch. On observation, this behavior seems to be a fun and enjoyable way for Kotaro to take care of himself and keep himself occupied, like his typical “one wet – one dry” practice of eating his kibbles.
One of Hana’s favorite spot is a box filled with stuffed animals. When peeking out, she could easily be mistaken for one of the plushies by someone who doesn’t know her.
With their undeniable appeal, these two precious otters continuously amaze us with their creative adventures. From reuniting with old pals, welcoming guests, celebrating milestones, or just having a great time in nature, they’ll always bring a cheerful grin to the observers’ countenances.
