California
Enhydra lutris   Chris Conard (left), Kim Bunn (right) | |
| Type of Animal: | Mammals |
|---|---|
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Federal Status: | Threatened |
| State Status: | |
| Occurrence: | |
| Habitat: | Coasts |
| Description: | Sea otters spend the majority of their time in the water. In fact, they usually only come onto shore to wait out a storm. To help them swim, they have webbed feet and flipper-like hind feet. The tail can also assist in swimming. Unlike most aquatic mammals, sea otters do not have a layer of blubber to insulate them. Instead they are kept warm only by the air that gets trapped in its hair. For this reason, sea otters are very susceptible to freezing to death when oil slicks damage their fur. Sea otters spend most of their time on their backs, whether they are playing, caring for their young, eating, or sleeping. Like the northern river otter, this species is extremely playful and can often be seen playing in groups. They have even been seen playing with other sea mammals, such as sea lions and seals. The main components of their diet are fish, abalone, crabs, and muscles. They use rocks to break through the shells. When sleeping, these cuddly little creatures wrap kelp leaves around them to ensure that they don't float away! The breeding season lasts throughout the entire year, but it peaks in late winter and early spring. Females begin reproducing between three and five years of age, and they typically have one young each year. The pups are usually weaned around six months of age, although some individuals may be weaned at a younger or older age. The life span of sea otters is approximately ten to fifteen years. Besides humans, the main predators are sharks, eagles, bears, and killer whales. A recent increase in the killer whale population has resulted in a decline in the sea otter population. |
| Effort: | "Sea otters were hunted extensively for their fur in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1911 the population had declined so much that a law was passed to protect them from further hunting and trapping. Although many other populations bounced back to a healthy size, the California population is still having trouble recovering its population size. Therefore, sea otters in California are classified as federally threatened. Killer whale predation and a low reproduction rate have contributed to the decline." |
| References: | Jameson et al. 1988. California Mammals. Wilson et al. (editors). 1999. The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Whitaker (editor). 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals, Revised Edition. Zeiner et al. (editors). 1990. California’s Wildlife, Volume III, Mammals. |
| Other Sites: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska |
| Field Office(s): | Bakersfield |