This article describes a video showing an otter repeatedly approaching a doe and two little baby deer. The otter emerges from the bushes and almost shyly scoots across the grass to where the deer are standing. At first the doe glances at the otter, but sensing no danger, turns away.
Then the otter playfully gets closer and rolls over on his back. It could be taken as if the otter is trying to let the deer know that it means no harm because it thus exposes itself in a way that leaves it defenseless. However, the mother deer jumps away and nudges the baby deer further back.
The deer continue to move around to different parts of the yard in an effort to stay far away from the otter. The otter runs up close to the deer, but then when they look its way, it runs into the bushes. The otter goes back and forth, each time rolling over on its back with all four legs waving in the air.
While the otter doesn’t ever attack, the deer stay well out of its reach. Each time the otter comes near them, the deer jump away as if startled. It seems the otter just wanted to play, but the deer weren’t in the mood.