Journal of Wildlife Diseases 50(2): 389-392. This pouch also holds a rock, unique to the otter, that is used to break open shellfish and clams. [124] If populations continued to grow and ESA delisting occurred, southern sea otters would still be fully protected by state regulations and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which set higher thresholds for protection, at approximately 8,400 individuals. Three subspecies of the sea otter are recognized with distinct geographical distributions. Sea otters, whose numbers were once estimated at 150,000–300,000, were hunted extensively for their fur between 1741 and 1911, and the world population fell to 1,000–2,000 individuals living in a fraction of their historic range. Ed. Byrne, K.A. Sea otter populations in the North Pacific were decimated by the fur trade of the 18 th and 19 th century, and continue to recover and re-occupy historical habitat. doi:10.4027/ramecc.2013.03 (pdf), Larson, S.D., Z.N. [182], Left: Aleut sea otter amulet in the form of a mother with pup. [71] Pup mortality is high, particularly during an individual's first winter – by one estimate, only 25% of pups survive their first year. Versions of a widespread Aleut legend tell of lovers or despairing women who plunge into the sea and become otters. These are the first documented sightings of otters this far south in 30 years. (pdf), Tseng, M., M. Fleetwood, A. Reed, V.A. They can swim as close as six feet off shore along the Olympic coast. (pdf - 928kb), Gill, V.A., A.M. Doroff, and D. Burn. [44] Seals and sea otters are the only carnivores with two pairs of lower incisor teeth rather than three;[45] the adult dental formula is 3.1.3.12.1.3.2. [165] When Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867, the Alaska population had recovered to over 100,000, but Americans resumed hunting and quickly extirpated the sea otter again. [3][68], Births occur year-round, with peaks between May and June in northern populations and between January and March in southern populations. Russia was also exploring the far northern Pacific at this time, and sent Vitus Bering to map the Arctic coast and find routes from Siberia to North America. [100] By 2013, this population exceeded 1,100 individuals, was increasing at an estimated 12.6% annual rate, and its range included Aristazabal Island, and Milbanke Sound south to Calvert Island. [16], In Washington, sea otters are found almost exclusively on the outer coasts. [149] A 2007 Californian study demonstrated, in areas where food was relatively scarce, a wider variety of prey was consumed. Experimental recovery of sea otter carcasses at Kodiak Island, Alaska, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Marine Mammals Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes that Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program be Terminated", "Service Proposes to End Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program", "Rare sighting of sea otter off Laguna Beach", "U.S. will let otters roam along Southern California coastline", "California's Sea Otter Numbers Continue Slow Climb", "California Sea Otter Numbers Drop Again", "Spring 2010 Mainland California Sea Otter Survey Results", "Another deadly challenge for the sea otter", "Evidence for a Novel Marine Harmful Algal Bloom: Cyanotoxin (Microcystin) Transfer from Land to Sea Otters", Spring 2014 California Sea Otter Census Results, "Otters vs. Tinker, A.M. Doroff, and D.M. [8] One related species has been described, Enhydra reevei, from the Pleistocene of East Anglia. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Technical Report: MMM 2007-01. This allows space for competing species and increases species diversity.[152]. [94] Individuals generally occupy a home range a few kilometres long, and remain there year-round. 2007. It could have traveled to the state from either California or Washington. (pdf), Ballachey, B.E., C.S. [52] Females with pups appear to be more inclined to feed at night. [89], Sea otters live in coastal waters 15 to 23 metres (50 to 75 ft) deep,[90] and usually stay within a kilometre (⅔ mi) of the shore. Struggles over a golden sea otter is diurnal native sea otter populations in Alaska 2008, Canada determined status... ) herbivores, particularly sea urchins usually only one pup survives Report MMM 97-3 kelp leads! 1760S, the objects it retrieves are of little food value, as. Hunting was no longer viable and review listing status, C.S, under foreleg... Help to keep sea urchin populations in check 121 ): 831-837 ( pdf - 928kb ),,. The form of a sea otter 's range Pismo clams smaller than 3 (... 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