There’s an otter craze in the air. People worldwide are falling in love with these adorable and playful water animals. In Japan, people are so otterly obsessed with otters and the idea of having them as pets that it’s caused a serious smuggling problem. As cute, clever and friendly as otters may seem, otters are wild animals and are ill-suited to a domestic life. Beyond that, owning an otter is illegal in most states.