7. Although the efforts to protect these animals continues to increase, there are many things you can do to help save the sea otters. Our organization is not affiliated with any other otter-related research group or community outreach organization. Raptors, pets and even children have been harmed or killed by secondary rodenticide poisoning. At about 4 or 5 years old, female sea otters typically have their first pup after a four-to-five-month-long pregnancy. Conservation efforts include getting the right information out there about Otters and their needs. It turns out a lot of things are killing sea otters, including shark bites, pollutants and parasites. They are also some of the most threatened. Take them to a hazardous waste center. …and speak out, both locally and nationally. Their population levels are decreasing due to high mortality rates among prime-aged adults… In addition, kelp forests capture carbon in these ecosystems which helps to offset carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. The River Otter Ecology Project is a registered 501 (c)(3) EIN #45-4997526 non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of river otters and our watershed. Storm drains go directly to streams. Have an area in the garage or shed to save them for proper disposal. Tune into our LIVE Sea Otter Cam for your daily dose of sea otter cuteness. Consult a gardening guide or garden store to find out what good native plant choices are for your area. Unexpectedly, two landbased parasites, Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona, were responsible for causing fatal brain infections in 24% of sea otters found dead on the California coast from 1998-2001. Good levels of reproduction in the otters and no evidence of otters dispersing (migrating?) SeaWorld parks rescue and rehabilitate orphaned, ill, and injured otters. Pay attention to how politicians stand on conservation issues like open space and stream and ocean protections. The water runs very slowly through a drip system into the ground, getting where it needs to be and not running off wastefully. In order to understand what might be affecting the recovery of California otters, a diverse group of scientists is studying otter ecology including reproduction, diet, home range and health. Make sure you pick up used fishing line and hooks! Instead, use permeable pavers to allow rainwater to sink into the ground and replenish groundwater. But if we could have a little bit of control and have a little bit of say in how we utilize and live with the sea otters in our backyard. After a treaty banning sea otter hunting was signed into effect early in the 20th century, their populations began to recover. Females can give birth any time of the year, but most in California have their pup between January and March. Working together, citizens and scientists can make the land to sea connection a positive one. Upon further investigation, scientists discovered that infectious disease plays a significant role in sea otter deaths. The unique opportunity to observe and learn directly from live animals increases public awareness and appreciation of wildlife. We receive no government funding, and depend solely on financial support from our friends. However, population growth in California didn’t reach expected levels and lagged compared growth in northern populations near Alaska. There are surprisingly many river otter deaths by car strike. Although the southern sea otter population increased from 1,270 in the 1980s to 3,500 in 2016, it has leveled off at just under 3,000 in the last three years. You can help sea otters by not thowing suff away it is a great way to help them to stay alive. Seeing sea otters as sentinels helps us to realize the importance of what we contribute to the oceans. A newborn pup needs constant attention and will stay with its mother for six months until it develops survival skills. By controlling sea urchin populations which feed upon the kelp, they help to protect habitat for many other species including fish, birds and other marine mammals. Take a moment to challenge your friends on social media to see if you can come up with the same number. Keep informed, and let your legislators know that you support strong protection for the environment. Although these are just two of the many diseases and environmental factors that impact otters, they offer an important chance to investigate the connection between terrestrial and marine environments. The sea otter, a voracious urchin-eater and possessor of the densest fur in the animal kingdom. Unlike most marine mammals, sea otters lack a thick layer of fat to insulate them from cold temperatures. A member of the weasel family, the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) keeps warm in the water because it possesses the densest fur in the animal kingdom – about 850,000 to a … It can also make you feel good about doing your part for these animals. Therefore, sea otters are crucial to maintaining kelp forest levels, which provide cover and food for many marine animals. If you’d like to learn more about the annual census and our sea otter foraging surveys, take a moment to watch the video below. Have an area in the garage or shed to save them for proper disposal. …no matter how much rain we get! It’s easier, cheaper, and you’ll have a more successful garden. What is being done to save the sea otters? How sea otters help save the planet. Have an area in the garage or shed to save them for proper disposal. In the protected environment of a zoological park, scientists can examine aspects of otter biology that are difficult to study in the wild. Don’t pour toxic household chemicals down the drain. Southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) are some of our most charismatic marine neighbors. Please see our Bay Area map. Describe sea otter characteristics. out of California suggest that mortality might be a large contributor to the slow sea otter recovery. The sources can be people’s pet cats and stray cats, as well as any wild cats in the area like mountain lions and bobcats. Scientists from the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI), in cooperation with other facilities and volunteers, coordinated efforts to rescue and treat sea otters affected by the 1989 oi… Newborn sea otters weigh 3 to 5 pounds. Otters serve a key role in maintaining healthy kelp forests along the California coast. Learn more about these cute and charismatic critters. Take them to a hazardous waste center. Sea otters are usually solitary but are sometimes seen in groups—gatherings of up to 2,000 have been observed along the coast of Alaska. … get into streams or lakes, eg., from lotions, perfumes, sunscreens. Are we impacting their health with our use of coastal land? Use snap traps and/or exclusion instead. Identify the location and range of the sea otter in Canada. Although once very broadly distributed along the Pacific coast from Japan and Russia to California, sea otters were hunted almost to the point of extinction for their luxurious fur coats in the 17-1800s. At night, sea otters may choose either … Because they spend their lives in the nearshore waters, sea otters also serve as an excellent sentinel for pathogens and pollutants entering the ocean from the terrestrial environment. Make sure it’s working properly; have it inspected every 2 years. Finding groups online that you can join the efforts of is very simple. Sea otters can also drink salt water and thus can remain at sea for several days at a time. Are their problems important warning signs for the health of that ecosystem and perhaps our own health? Detecting Toxoplasma in the sea otters has increased awareness of the potential for human exposure to this pathogen, which can have severe impacts on people whose immune systems aren’t functioning well in addition to the developing fetuses of infected pregnant women. Part of sea otters’ high susceptibility to exposure is due to their diet. Even with the additional protection of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and being listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 1977, California sea otters have experienced periods of decline. Choose a nearby stream, lake or marsh. Instead, use Integrated Pest Management practices (google it and find many excellent, organic suggestions). …down the drain. 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