Southern Sea Otters - Zamantha Baraceros
Southern Sea Otters
Photo by Ron Wolf
by.
Zamantha Baraceros
At about 850,000 to one million hairs per square inch, sea otters have the thickest fur of any mammal. Their fur color varies from dark brown to reddish brown. On average, adult males weigh about 65 pounds and are about 4.5 feet long. Adult females weigh about 45 pounds and are about 4 feet long. Their hind limbs are flipper-like for swimming and their tail is less than one-third of their body length.
Sea otters spend much of their lives in the water and can dive up to 330 feet when hunting for food. When resting, sea otters form linked single-sex groups, which are called rafts. The average raft contains about 10 to 100 sea otters. Male rafts are typically larger than female ones. These rafts help them from drifting out to sea when sleeping. They also wrap themselves in kelp forests for the same reason.
Sexual maturity for sea otter males occur at 5 years and at 3-4 years for females. Mating is peaked during spring and autumn. Males often bite the female's nose and hold them underwater during mating. They breed about once or twice every two years. Females are pregnant for about four to five months before giving birth. Only 25% of pups survive through one year, with most deaths occurring during winter.
Historically, sea otters numbered several hundred thousands to more than a million. But due to the fur trade, worldwide numbers of sea otters plummeted down to a total of only 1,000 - 2,000 in the early 1900s. Today, there are estimated to be just over 106,000 worldwide, with just over 3,000 in California.
https://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2010/12/OtterAbundance.jpg
Geographic Ranges
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The overall recovery goal under the Endangered Species Act is to establish the long-term viability of the southern sea otter population sufficiently to allow delisting the species. The primary objectives of this recovery plan are to create the conditions that will allow the southern sea otter to increase in numbers and distribution and to identify appropriate conservation actions to address the threats to this species.
What can you do?
“12 Ways You Can Help Sea Otters.” Awesome Ocean, 22 Sept. 2014, awesomeocean.com/top-stories/12-ways-can-help-sea-otters/.
"Final Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter" U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
“Sea Otter.” The Marine Mammal Center, www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/sea-otter.html.
Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Species Profile for Southern Sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis), ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A0A7.
“Threats to Sea Otters.” Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Sept. 2016, defenders.org/sea-otter/threats.
Photo by Randy Wilder/Monterey Bay Aquarium
At about 850,000 to one million hairs per square inch, sea otters have the thickest fur of any mammal. Their fur color varies from dark brown to reddish brown. On average, adult males weigh about 65 pounds and are about 4.5 feet long. Adult females weigh about 45 pounds and are about 4 feet long. Their hind limbs are flipper-like for swimming and their tail is less than one-third of their body length.
A sea otter's diet includes urchins, abalone, mussels, clams, crabs, snails and about 40 other marine species. They are also one of the few mammals other than primates known to use tools. When they eat animals with shells, they use a stone to break open the shells. Adult sea otters approximately eat around 25% - 30% of their body weight in food each day to support their high metabolisms.
Photo by Ming Wang, My Shot
2014 Oregon Wild. Handcrafted by Illusio Design
Sea otters spend much of their lives in the water and can dive up to 330 feet when hunting for food. When resting, sea otters form linked single-sex groups, which are called rafts. The average raft contains about 10 to 100 sea otters. Male rafts are typically larger than female ones. These rafts help them from drifting out to sea when sleeping. They also wrap themselves in kelp forests for the same reason.
Tucey Photography
Sexual maturity for sea otter males occur at 5 years and at 3-4 years for females. Mating is peaked during spring and autumn. Males often bite the female's nose and hold them underwater during mating. They breed about once or twice every two years. Females are pregnant for about four to five months before giving birth. Only 25% of pups survive through one year, with most deaths occurring during winter.
Photo by. Michael Jay
Historically, sea otters numbered several hundred thousands to more than a million. But due to the fur trade, worldwide numbers of sea otters plummeted down to a total of only 1,000 - 2,000 in the early 1900s. Today, there are estimated to be just over 106,000 worldwide, with just over 3,000 in California.
https://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2010/12/OtterAbundance.jpg
Geographic Ranges
Friends of the Sea Otter
The Southern sea otter's historic range once stretched from Japan, along the coast of Siberia, the Aleutian Chain, Alaska, British Colombia, Washington, Oregon, California and the coast of Baja California. Currently, sea otters can be found in Canada, Russia, Japan, California and Washington, but the majority of all wild sea otters are found in Alaskan waters. Southern sea otters, also known as California sea otters, live in the waters along the California coastline and range from San Mateo County in the north to Santa Barbara County in the South.
Friends of the Sea Otter
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The Southern sea otter population was listed as threatened in 1977 because of its small size and limited distribution and potential jeopardy to the remaining habitat and population by oil spills.
Listing
The Southern sea otter population was listed as threatened in 1977 because of its small size and limited distribution and potential jeopardy to the remaining habitat and population by oil spills.
Main Threats
Oil spills have been considered to be the most serious
potential threat to the species. Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters do not have a blubber layer. Therefore, they rely on their fur to keep warm. If their fur is oiled, it loses its insulating qualities and the sea otters soon becomes chill. Otters are also affected by the oil fumes or poisoned by eating food exposed to oil. Most sea otters quickly die in an oil spill. Since listing, however, pollution and
incidental take in fisheries have also been recognized as substantial problems. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
The overall recovery goal under the Endangered Species Act is to establish the long-term viability of the southern sea otter population sufficiently to allow delisting the species. The primary objectives of this recovery plan are to create the conditions that will allow the southern sea otter to increase in numbers and distribution and to identify appropriate conservation actions to address the threats to this species.
Threat: Oil Spills
Recommended Recovery Action: Implement and monitor USCG vessel management plan; assess current risk of tanker accidents and other sources of oil spills, including off-shore oil platforms, pipeline, and marine terminals; implement an oil spill contingency plan that includes a sea otter response plan
Threat: Contaminants
Recommended Recovery Action: Evaluate causes of otter mortality; analyze tissues from southern sea otters for environmental contaminants and archive tissues for future analysis; determine sources of environmental contaminants; determine contaminant levels in sea otter prey and habitat
Threat: Incidental take in fishing gear
Recommended Recovery Action: Evaluate causes of otter mortality; monitor incidental take in commercial fisheries; evaluate the effectiveness of fishing regulations for preventing sea otter take; evaluate incidental take in trap/pot fisheries; determine and take possible steps to reduce or eliminate sea otter mortality incidental to fisheries
What can you do?
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever you can.
- Dispose of hazardous wastes properly.
- Grow a garden. The roots take in water, reducing the amount of runoff.
- Use nontoxic household cleaning products.
- Don’t litter or dump materials into storm drains.
- Pick up after your pets.
- Use less water.
- Purchase sustainable, recycled, biodegradable goods.
- Volunteer to help or create a beach clean up.
- Get your car oil changed to prevent leaks.
- Donate to the California Sea Otter Fund.
- Learn more about ocean issues and share your knowledge!
Sea otters are not just amazing creatures but are crucial keystone species that benefit the wildlife around them. If you are interested in learning more about these species or want to know how you can help them with their recovery please take a look at the links below!
Resources
Mint Images - Frans Lanting
Sources
“12 Ways You Can Help Sea Otters.” Awesome Ocean, 22 Sept. 2014, awesomeocean.com/top-stories/12-ways-can-help-sea-otters/.
"Final Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter" U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
“Sea Otter.” The Marine Mammal Center, www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/sea-otter.html.
Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Species Profile for Southern Sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis), ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A0A7.
“Threats to Sea Otters.” Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Sept. 2016, defenders.org/sea-otter/threats.
I love sea otters! One of my favorite sounds is when they crack open their food on their chest. I didn't realize how large of a threat oil spills were to the southern sea otter. This post was well written, great job! -Michael Avila
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, I loved all of the pictures! Sea otters are adorable. I didn't know that adult sea otters can eat around 25% - 30% of their body weight in food every day, that was very surprising. I was also surprised to see that the fur trade is such a problem for sea otters even today, since I don't typically think of fur as being very popular anymore. Great job! - Bailey Barton
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed all the graphics included in this blog. The headings on the pictures were also helpful. Recently, the graph starts to show a decline. I hope that the population can recover to a point where it becomes delisted. -Chris Berridge
ReplyDeleteI loved all the information about the sea otter in general, especially about its crazy thick fur. I was shocked at all the little ways I can help save this great animal, such as the simple act of getting my car's oil changed. -Audrey Bolesta
ReplyDeleteWow I didn't know that they can dive up to 330 feet for food. It was sad to read that oil spills are a major threat to them. I liked the long list of what we all can do to help and that they were all very feasible things that can easily be accomplished if we try.
ReplyDelete-Keaton Bates
Wow, great blog! It's so fascinating to hear how they use tools to eat in the same ways we do. When humans can make connections with animals I think it increases our chances of wanting to protect that animal since it reminds of of ourselves in a little way. We see that they are intelligent in using tools so we should help to protect them as they play a big role in their ecosystem! -Jenna A.
ReplyDeleteI always knew that oil spills had a terrible effect on otters, but I never knew that it was because of the effect on their fur. I didn't know that they relied only on the insulation from their fur to keep warm. I find it awesome that the sea otters have recovered a lot since the 1900s, but there is still a lot to be achieved. - Grant Baldwin
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how much pressure this animal can withstand with a 330 ft dive and then still be able to maneuver to retrieve its food. A remarkable animal indeed. -Guillermo Avilez
ReplyDeleteOtters have always been so cute to me! I will definitely take shorter showers to save their lives! Grant Anderson
ReplyDeletei didn't know otters can dive up to 330 feet.- Pierson Berry
ReplyDeleteInteresting post about the southern sea otters. Sad to see such a beautiful animal affected by us humans spilling oil into their habitats.
ReplyDelete-Shea Blackman