Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California have linked sea otters to healthy kelp forests off the West Coast. According to a new study published in the journal PLOS Climate, the recovery of Southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) in central California happened at the same time that kelp forests in the same […]
Tag: Sea Otters
Watch rare footage of wolf hunting sea otter in Alaska at low tide
Wolves on the Alaskan coast now regularly kill and eat sea otters and harbor seals, scientists have discovered. The finding suggests that the coastal wolves can adapt their hunting behavior — and may have developed unique strategies to prey on marine mammals when food on land is scarce. The study into coastal wolf hunting behaviour […]
Urchin harvesters tried to reduce protections for sea otters: Here’s why it didn’t work
Sea Otter Savvy monitors the animals in the Morro Bay Harbor, tracking their behavior and watching how they react to their environment. Sea otters remain a threatened species in California. Despite recent efforts by sea urchin harvesters to reduce protections for southern sea otters under the Endangered Species Act, the species is still at risk, […]
How a surfing sea otter revealed the dark side of human nature
Surfers often talk about how the sport helps them reconnect with nature, but a recent episode involving an otter with a love for surfboards shows just how brittle our love for wildlife really is. The authorities are trying to capture and remove said otter from her native environment for climbing onto a man’s surfboard in […]
Sea Otter Attacks Are Frightening Beachgoers Along California Coastline
Surfing in Santa Cruz took a terrifying turn for Joon Lee, a 40-year-old software engineer, when he found himself under attack by an unexpected assailant – a sea otter. According to the Los Angeles Times, This incident is part of a recent wave of aggressive behavior by an otter off the Santa Cruz coastline, causing […]
Sea Otters Face New Deadly Threat, and Humans Can Catch It, Too
Sea otters, the smallest marine mammals in North America, are iconic symbols of the California coast and a keystone species. These furry creatures once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but due to hunting, habitat loss, and pollution, they have become one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. In recent years, a […]
Interesting Facts About One of the Ocean’s Smartest Animals: Sea Otters
Sea otters are a popular marine mammal, with live camera feeds and plush toys aplenty. This adorable species has been slowly recovering after their population dipped dangerously low due to demand for their fur. This is good news, as sea otters are truly a unique breed that benefits our environment. Here are some interesting tidbits […]
US Agency Says Reintroducing Sea Otters to Oregon is Doable and Could Improve the Ecosystem
Sea otters were once found across the North Pacific Rim, stretching from Japan through the Aleutian islands and down the Pacific coast into Mexico. At one point, their population was between 150,000 and 300,000. However, by the early 1900s, their numbers had dwindled to below 2,000 due to high demand for their fur. While the […]