Creature Feature Sea Otter
You Otter Love Them
Sea otters are totally pawsome! These fluffy marine mammals can be found in several of your national marine sanctuaries on the West Coast, including Olympic Coast, Monterey Bay, and Greater Farallones. Their population was drastically reduced in the 18th and 19th centuries due to hunting, but sea otters’ numbers are now on the rise. In Washington, they were completely extinct until 59 otters were reintroduced from Alaska in 1969 and 1970. Now, more than 2,000 live in the waters in and around the Olympic Coast!
Fun Facts
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Enhydra lutris
DIET: Invertebrates (sea urchins, lobster, abalone, clams, etc.)
AVERAGE SIZE: 4-5 feet
AVERAGE WEIGHT: 70-100 pounds
LIFE SPAN: 15-20 years
GESTATION PERIOD: 9-10 months
AVERAGE LITTER SIZE: 1-2 pups
HAIRS PER INCH: >1 million
LOCATION: Coastal waters of Japan, Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska, Pacific coast of North America to Baja California
Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters don’t have a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm. Instead, they rely on thick, waterproof fur. They spend much of their time grooming this fur to keep it in tip-top shape.
