Sea otter with pup, Prince William Sound, Alaska

© AlaskaStock/Masterfile

Sea otter with pup, Prince William Sound, Alaska

This sea otter pup looks content to be cuddling with its mama in the chilly waters of Prince William Sound, here in the Gulf of Alaska. As mothers go, otters are of the devoted sort. They’re known to shower their pups with attention, cradling them and grooming them for hours. But the grooming is more than a gesture of affection--a mom will rub her pup to mat the pup’s fur, which causes the fur to retain air bubbles. The air insulates the pup from chilly water and sometimes causes the youngster to float like a cork. Considering all this hugging and cuddling, we think the sea otter makes a fine mascot for National Cuddle Up Day, celebrated January 6.