4 Weird Friendships between Wild Animals

Here are four instances of interspecies friendships without human involvement, including pictures and footage of them hanging out

Fox and Otter

First up on November 2025, security cameras in Lincoln, England, recorded a most unusual sight. A Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) was seen with a Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) roaming around Brayford Pool and the High Street areas in the early hours before the otter entered the River Withan and, with that, the two went on their merry ways.

It isn’t strange to see either mammal within an urban environment as the UK’s foxes these days are more comfortable living in urban and suburban environments, living off human food waste, and otters are increasingly common around settlements too. To see the animals enjoying eachother’s company is most bizarre, nonetheless.

One expert commented: “It’s so odd and those animals would never been seen hunting in the same areas. If anything they’d be fighting each other rather than walking around the shops. You might see the odd fox around a city centre but to find an otter in a populated area is highly unusual.”

Check out footage here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=826534763602841
or here: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9ubmg2

Wolf and Bear

Second on the list is the most remarkable: In 2013, a photographer spied a Brown Bear (Ursus Arctos) cohabiting with a Grey Wolf (Canis Lupus) in the wilderness of Finland.

For wildlife to survive and thrive, they generally stick with their own species. Bears prefer a life of solitude and wolves are pack animals, making their affinity one that defies nature.

Though the reason for their friendship remains unclear, interspecies relationships may spur from the stress or trauma of being separated from their social group. That the wolf and bear were playing, feeding, and resting together, making one thing certain, they find comfort and security in one another. 

Check out footage here: https://www.beautifulnews.com/unlikely-friendship-between-grey-wolf-and-brown-bear-defies-nature

Fox and Deer

Another instance of a fox being sociable, in May of 2025 a Red Fox and Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) were seen playing together in someone’s large back garden in England.

One expert commented: “Foxes are often portrayed as predators, but they are also playful and curious animals, the fox’s behavior, including a ‘play bow,’ indicates a playful intent rather than aggression.” And it wasn’t just the fox being mischievous, the deer, too, chased around the fox for fun.

“It’s like something straight out of a Disney movie” The expert quipped.

Watch the footage here: https://www.thedodo.com/daily-dodo/security-camera-captures-disney-moment-unlikely-animal-friends-play-together

Donkey and Elk

Finally, whilst technically not a wild animal, one Donkey (Equus Asinus) turned ‘wild burro’ after escaping from its owners in 2019 in the USA.

In 2024, a hiker came across the donkey, once called Diesel, who was now rolling with a herd of Roosevelt Elk (Cervus Canadensis Roosevelti) apparently happy and healthy. Diesel, who got spooked on a hike in 2019, was rediscovered just a few miles from where he got lost in California. His old owners were just relieved that he was OK and “…living his best life”.

Footage can be viewed here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjjje07x35do