While driving home from a short trip near the Columbia River in Washington, Natalie Therese and her partner noticed something unusual ahead.
Through the misty air, they could make out what looked like a small, fuzzy lump sitting in the middle of the road.
Up Close, A Small Family Comes Into View
Natalie immediately felt an urgent need to check what it was.
“I yelled to watch out and pull over,” said Natalie.
She got out of the vehicle and cautiously walked toward the shape. As she neared it, she realized it was not one animal at all. It was three baby otters pressed close together.
“My partner thought they were just a clump of dirt or something!” Natalie recalled.
She suspected their mother had likely darted away as the car approached, leaving the young behind for the moment.
Helping The Otter Pups Reach Cover
The otter pups were too young to grasp the danger around them, and they remained in the roadway without moving.
As Natalie and her partner looked around, they noticed the mother otter nearby, watching anxiously from the woods.
Nataly knew she could not leave the babies exposed to traffic. She carefully started guiding them off the road and toward the trees.
“I gently encouraged them off the road,” she explained.
Trying not to scare them, she slowly ushered the trio closer to the forest’s edge.
“I stood back by the car and waited until the mother came out and all three babies ran off the road together. Then I waited a few more minutes to make sure they wouldn’t run back to the road.”
Natalie also recorded the encounter on video, capturing the moment the otters reunited and moved back into a safer area.
The experience stayed with her long after it ended.
“I was so touched and moved to tears from the whole experience. Nature and her creatures are just so beautiful.”
Why Drivers Should Watch For Wildlife Near Waterways
Wild animals often cross or rest on roads, especially in places bordered by forests and rivers.
Staying attentive behind the wheel matters in these areas, since these habitats have long been home to wildlife before people travel through them.