Sea Otter Named Dennis Loves Visiting Kayakers-But There's One Catch
At first glance, Dennis the sea otter seems like the friendliest animal on the waters around Vancouver Island. The charming otter regularly paddles over to greet kayakers, climbs onto their boats, and happily hangs out while they paddle around as if they're his own personal chauffeurs.
But Dennis's adorable encounters all come with one catch, and it's not because he enjoys the company. As it turns out, the lovable otter has an ulterior motive for cozying up to kayakers, and it's leaving viewers both laughing and shaking their heads. Can you guess what it is?
@animalshaveempath His own personal floating restaurant
original sound - animalshaveempathy
We laughed when we read the caption: "His own personal floating restaurants," and who can blame him? Everybody loves getting a free meal!
Related: Baby Sea Otters' Adorable Chirps Are Melting Hearts Across the Internet
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Why Do Sea Otters Approach People and Boats?
Commenter @Rick said what we were all thinking, "How amazing would this be?!" and @magic added, "I would pass out from happiness!!!"
As tempting as it is to think Dennis is seeking out human friendship, food is often the real reason sea otters approach boats and kayaks. Whether they know food is available or simply think it might be, many sea otters in high-traffic boating and fishing areas learn to associate people and watercraft with an easy meal.
That's why organizations like Sea Otter Savvy encourage people to avoid rewarding Dennis's behavior. If a sea otter approaches or tries to climb aboard, they recommend making noise by tapping your kayak with a paddle, splashing water near the otter, and avoiding any attempts to touch, pet, feed, or photograph it. The goal is to make the interaction as uninteresting as possible so the animal doesn't become comfortable around humans.
They also note that while sea otters are protected under federal law and should never be harassed or injured, a gentle nudge with a paddle to prevent an otter from climbing aboard is acceptable if necessary to keep both the animal and the people involved safe. As adorable as sea otters may be, helping them stay wild is ultimately the kindest thing kayakers can do.
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This story was originally published June 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM.