| Otter, Southern Sea | |||
| Genus | Enhydra | ||
| Species | lutris | ||
| Subspecies | nereis | ||
| Status | Threatened | ||
| Habitat | Ocean | ||
| Distribution | United States (West Coast - California, Oregon, Washington), south to Mexico (Baja California) - except all areas subject to United States jurisdiction south of Pt. Conception, California (34°26.9' N. Latitude) | ||
| Length |
Female: 49 inches (125 cm) Male: 53 inches (135 cm) | ||
| Weight |
Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg) Male: 33-100 pounds (15-45 kg) | ||
| Behavior |
Sea otters can dive up to depths of 180 feet (55 meters), but prefer water not deeper than 115 feet (35 meters). Females often stay in shallower areas, while males often head out to deeper seas.
Male otters are more sociable then the females. Rafts of over 1000 males have been spotted, and sightings of over 100 are common. A large female raft will contain only about 20 otters and their young. Sea otters spend most of their lives in the water, coming out onto land for only short periods of time. These little trips onto land are called hauling out. Otters haul out only when sick or when the weather is very cold. Male otters do not migrate, but often leave their place of birth to search for females. | ||
| Breeding | Female otters are easy to recognize because they have scarred or bloody noses. During mating season, the male bites the nose of the female and holds on tight. This prevents the female from escaping and keeps her near the surface of the water so both sea otters can breathe. | ||
| Conservation |
Southern sea otters were once found on most north Pacific coasts. Today, they have disappeared from most of that range, living only in small isolated groups. The population has declined because it was hunted for its beautiful fur. In the 1800s, Russian explorers began trading for sea otter pelts with the native people that lived along the coast. Their thick fur was so fine that it quickly became popular. American and English fur traders also began hunting the otters, and it wasn't long before these animals became rare. This scarcity only made otter fur even more valuable.
In 1911 international laws were passed to protect this animal. By that time, over half a million sea otters had been hunted and nearly three times as many killed at sea and sank before their pelts could be recovered. Otters were completely wiped out along the western coasts of Canada and California. A few still existed in Alaska, but hunting continued there, also. In 1983 a raft of 50 sea otters was found on the California coast. Today, there are over 1500 animals in the group. Towards the north, sea otters number between 150,000 and 200, 000. The southern sea otter has made a good comeback, but its future is still uncertain. One other danger threatens sea otters - oil spills. When an otter gets oil on its fur, it cannot survive for long because the oil ruins the otter's coat and leaves it with no protection against the cold. The otter will try to lick the oil off and will die from the poison. | ||
| Interesting Facts | Sea otters belong to the weasel family. They are the only ones of the weasel family that rely on the sea for all of their food. | ||
| Animal Communication Panel | |||
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