Introducing

Southern Sea Otter

Enhydra lutris nereis

The wild behind the wear
Here is what you need to know.

Southern sea otters are found in nearshore areas along the central California coastline. They have an important role in coastal ecosystems, keeping kelp forests and seagrass beds in balance. Sea urchins, crabs, and other invertebrates feed directly on kelp and seagrass, and left unchecked, they can overgraze these habitats entirely. By foraging on these animals, the southern sea otter keeps these populations in check and ecosystems in balance. 

Once hunted to the edge of extinction for their fur, southern sea otters have made a recovery that is one of the most compelling conservation stories on the Pacific coast. Their continued survival is critical to the health of ocean ecosystems.

Range

Central California coastline from San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County, and San Nicolas Island.

Habitat

marine | coastal | urban harbors

Conservation Status

Listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act, Depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Endangered on the IUCN Red List (as part of the species Enhydra lutris).

Meet the species
From the Field Guide.

The sea otter is the smallest marine mammal in North America. Southern sea otters average around four feet in length, with adult females weighing approximately 45 pounds and males closer to 65 pounds.

Unlike many marine species, sea otters do not have blubber to stay warm in ocean waters. Instead, they have evolved the densest fur of any animal on Earth, along with a metabolism that is relatively high for a creature of their size. This combination keeps them warm, but it requires them to eat roughly a quarter of their body weight in food every single day.

Staying warm and foraging for food is hard work, so rest becomes essential for southern sea otters to conserve and recover energy. These social animals usually rest in groups, sometimes called rafts, often wrapping themselves in kelp or seagrass to keep from drifting apart while they sleep.
The threats they're up against.

The southern sea otter was once hunted to the edge of extinction for its fur by hunters and fur traders. By 1911, the population was reduced to an estimated 50 individuals. Protective measures and recovery actions have been effective in growing the population, but the threats the species faces have not disappeared.

One of the primary threats the southern sea otter faces today is oil spills. Because the species is concentrated along a short stretch of California coastline, a large spill could have a significant impact on the total population. Shark-bite mortality is also a persistent threat. Additional threats include entanglement in fishing gear, pollution, disease, biotoxin intoxication, and food limitations.

Ocean acidification also poses a growing threat to the shell-forming invertebrates that make up much of the sea otter's prey.

Let's have some fun
Because the more you know, the more you love.

Sea otters feed on a variety of hard-shelled prey, including clams, snails, and mussels. But even for their powerful jaws, these shells can be tough to crack. So sea otters do what few non-primate mammals do: they use tools. Diving down, they collect rocks from the ocean floor and use them to crack open the tough, protective shells of their prey.

While many otters pluck rocks on an as-needed basis, other individuals have been observed holding onto a single, distinctly colored rock for an entire foraging season, tucking it into the loose skin under their arms.
Finding love in the wild.

In the wild, courtship is serious business. Some sing for it, some dance for it, some build for it, every species does it a little differently. Meet our singles, each one hoping to make it official (or at least make it to mating season).
Otto

Otto

Morro Bay, California

Resourceful Scuba Diver Cuddler

About Me

I'm a firm believer in second breakfast, and will always say yes to dessert. Looking for someone to raft up with.

Details

Interests Collecting rocks, beach days, water sports, snack breaks
Favorite Food Dozen oysters on the half shell
Favorite Song "Float On" by Modest Mouse
Green Flags Smiles with their eyes, loves to fall asleep while holding hands
Zodiac Sign Taurus
Swipe Left Swipe Right

Every purchase makes an impact

10% of the proceeds from this piece go directly to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, whose Sea Otter Program works to rescue, rear, and reintroduce stranded sea otter pups to the wild while advancing the scientific knowledge needed to restore healthy coastal ecosystems.
Treasured Stone Necklace
Treasured Stone Necklace
Treasured Stone Necklace
Treasured Stone Necklace

Treasured Stone Necklace

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Resources
Go deeper in the deets.

Did you fall a little in love? Same. There's so much to learn about these creatures, and we could go on about them forever. Good thing there's plenty more where this came from: the sources below will happily take it from here.