Survival in the Alaskan winter: an otter mother's struggle

Nature · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the freezing waters of Alaska, a sea otter mother faces the harsh reality of winter. This footage captures the struggle of raising a cub amidst snow and ice.

This exclusive preview from BBC Earth's 'Spy In The Snow' follows a sea otter mother and her pup navigating the extreme conditions of an Alaskan winter. While snow provides a playground for some, for others, the sub-zero temperatures present a lethal challenge to raising a family.

The footage uses disguised spy cameras to capture rare moments of survival, including a baby sea otter learning to swim in icy waters.

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