However, they are threatened by storms, pollution, warming waters, and overharvesting. Sea otter population growth during the last century has enhanced kelp forest resilience, according to researchers ...

A sea otter floating above ribbons of kelp is undoubtedly one of nature’s cutest scenes. It’s well known that the marine ...

Plus, they eat animals, like sea urchins, that eat up kelp forests. The sea otter’s diet helps kelp thrive for the benefit of all kinds of species of fish, invertebrates, and sea life that live ...

helping to restore wetlands and protect kelp forests. The aquarium recently built the Sea Otter Conservation Center, a new behind-the-scenes facility that expands the on-site capacity of the sea ...

sea lions, sharks and cetaceans. “Kelp forests provide all these different resources and a lot of them are fished or fishable,” Beas explains. “[But] when the kelp forest is gone ...

“They seem to be incredibly resilient,” said Todd McLeish, author of “Return of the Sea Otter.” “Given a little bit of protection ... which in turn grazed kelp forests to nubbins. When the hungry ...

"Sea otters," says marine biologist Jim Bodkin, " have absolutely the finest fur in the animal kingdom. If you've ever held one in your hands, you would know why. They have an incredibly dense and ...

Every day California sea otters spend 10 to 12 hours hunting and consume nearly a third of their body weight. Suzi Eszterhas Scientists have long designated the california sea otter a “keystone ...

Their typical haunts include precipitous rocky shores, barrier reefs, tidewater stones, and dense kelp forests. RANGE: Sea otters can be found in California, Washington, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and ...

Adorably fuzzy sea otters aren’t just cute. The marine mammals serve a crucial role, helping to restore the giant kelp forests they rely on by removing their top predators, the sea urchins.