We’re heading into sea otter awareness week! So, what are some things about these guys?
- There are three subspecies: Northern Sea, Southern Sea, and Asian.
- Asian sea otter is the largest with a wider skull and short nasal bones.
- Northern sea otter has the longest mandibles.
- Southern sea otter have smallest teeth and longest snout.
- From the mustelid family (weasels), it is the only member without anal glands, no den, and spends its entire life in the water.
- They can hold their breath for up to 5 minutes, but their dives for food tend to be between 1-4 minutes.
- Unlike other marine mammals, it catches fish with its paws instead of its teeth.
- Sea otters live within and around kelp forests of the Pacific Ocean.
- They eat the animals, like sea urchins, that destroy kelp forests, so they are considered keystone species.
- They have the densest fur in the animal kingdom with two layers that have one million hairs per square inch.
- Another way to stay warm is they have a high metabolism, which requires a lot of food.
- 90% of the sea otter population live around Alaska.
- Southern sea otters can breed at any time while Northern sea otters are born in the spring.
- Otter pup fur is too dense for it to dive. So, it floats on the surface until its adult fur comes in, which takes about 6 months.
- They use tools to break open shelled prey. Usually a rock, which they keep in a loose patch of skin under their arm.
- A group of otters floating on the surface is called a raft.
Pictures and videos!
Legends of Windemere 
I always enjoy seeing these guys.
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Wish I could see them in the wild, but not my area.
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Saw them in Oregon and Alaska.
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They are such cute little buggers. Once, on a ocean tour in Alaska, we were told to look for them with an octopus on their chest because they love eating octopi. when no one saw anything and looked away, up popped one with a nice orange octopus. I was the only one who saw it.
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Lucky!
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Yes, I lucked out that day!
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Loved this, Charles. Thanks.
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You’re welcome.
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😊
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I didn’t realize there’s more than one kind of sea otter.
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Same here.
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I think they are such interesting animals. And it seems they are importent to keep the marine ecosystem healthy.
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Yup. Every creature in the wild is essential.
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I wish everyone would realise that. Balance is essential.
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I think most people are simply struggling to survive, so it doesn’t register. It’s really a small percentage of humans that actively harm the environment.
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They are adorable and amazing! Thanks for all the info on them.
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You’re welcome.
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They are adorable, and now i know there are more than one kind.
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Same here.
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