Visitors at ZooAmerica in Hershey, Pennsylvania, were delighted to see the zoo’s two North American river otters, Link and Iris, enjoying playtime in the fresh snow. Using their own bodies like sleds, the pair slipped and slid down a snowy hill, clearly having the time of their lives.
The video isn’t very long, but it’s packed with cuteness as the otters glide through the fresh white powder. When they reach the bottom, there’s a small pond waiting for them, which we’re sure made the snowy adventure even more fun!
Zoo America made us smile with the video’s caption, “You otter believe that Link and Iris had a blast sliding through the fresh snow today!”
Commenter @hannah_martin99 could relate, “This is exactly what my human stepkids were doing today LOL! They were sliding down a little hill of snow that the plows made. No sleds or anything!”
Related: Man’s Attempt to Help Baby Otter Learn to Swim Is Downright Adorable
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All About North American River Otters
If it looks like Link and Iris were having fun, it’s because they are! North American river otters are incredibly playful, so enjoying time in the snow is right up their alley.
Otters communicate with each other by whistling, yelping, growling, and even screaming, according to the National Wildlife Federation. They also touch each other and use various postures to communicate through body language.
They are also very quick. On land, these otters can run as fast as 15 miles per hour, and they can slide quickly through snow and mud when they have to.
River otters spend most of their time in the water, and adult river otters can hold their breath underwater for up to 8 minutes and dive to a depth of 60 feet!
These otters stay busy, whether in the water or on land. They spend the majority of the time they’re awake hunting for fish, crabs, snails, frogs, worms, and turtles. After every meal, they spend time grooming and washing themselves. They’re very clean animals!
While they love to swim, they actually spend about two-thirds of their time on land, including when they sleep.
This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Jan 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.