They can run at 40 miles an hour, making them exceptional hunters. For example the Alaskan Otter is protected so humans aren’t really a treat to it. Even crabs or lobsters with hard shells can be crushed with its powerful jaws. Sea otters are sea mammals native to the eastern and northern parts of the North Pacific Ocean. During winter and fall, coyotes form packs to make their hunting more effective.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'factsking_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',130,'0','0'])); Apart from sea otters, coyotes eat just about anything, including deer, frogs, fish, rodents, and rabbits. Predators and Prey of the Sea Otter The sea otter's diet includes about 40 marine species, including urchins, crabs, clams, abalones, mussels, and snails. The only predator that they have to worry about is the killer whale. Today, most people use traps for hunting them.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',128,'0','0'])); Some people hunt otters just for the thrill of killing them. Sea Otters spend most of their life at sea, but will come ashore in bad weather or to avoid predators. The younger sea otters can also be attacked on the water surface by bald eagles. ... Keystone predators govern … Change ), Sea Otters and Their Role in the Ecosystem. Sea otters have remarkable eating and foraging habits. Scientists have sought to establish why white sharks would be attacking sea otters, yet they don’t feed on them. However, in recent years, the population of sea otters has declined significantly courtesy of main sea otter predator, the bald eagle. Recent reports of sea otter sightings have also occurred in Mexico. If sea otters are not present , then urchin populations boom, which leads to overgrazing — killing all the kelp — and creating a wasteland known as an urchin barren . Those sea otters that live farther south, mostly hunt for a great white shark, and representatives of those sea otters that inhabit the more northern areas of the Pacific, hunt for killer whales. This notwithstanding, shark bites now account for over half of sea otter deaths. I hope that this article on sea otter predators was helpful! Consequently, the kelp forest ecosystem is gradually collapsing. They place their nests on shoreline sea stacks, coastal cliffs, and islets. The sea otter ecosystem is largely made up of thick kelp forests. Other predators include sea lions in certain areas, as well as eagles, which eat otter pups. The predators that Otters will encounter depend on where they happen to live. Most Sea Otter "raft" in kelp beds with other otters. They have even managed to colonize cities such as Los Angeles and are found in most parts of North America. However, in recent years, the population of sea otters has declined significantly courtesy of main sea otter predator, the bald eagle. Sea otters eat about 25% of their weight every day, and is arguably the number one cause in sea otter deaths, when they cannot forage enough food to feed themselves. Sometimes, though, otters get caught fishermen’s nets.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-box-4','ezslot_3',129,'0','0'])); One of the biggest predators of sea otters are coyotes. Besides, they eat some fish species, and various crustaceans and mollusks. Interestingly, the predators do not actually feed on the otters. Like many other animals, sea otters find their safety in numbers. There are some predators of sea turtles as adults, but these marine reptiles are most vulnerable when in the egg and as hatchlings (small turtles recently emerged from the egg). Otters are eaten by large predators, such as great white sharks, killer whales, bears, sea lions, eagles and coyotes, depending on their geographical location. Sea lions and seals are now not as abundant as they once were, especially in the North Pacific, forcing the whales to turn to sea otters for food. They, therefore, kill otters so they can’t eat the fish and other sea creatures. They use the fur to make handicrafts. In the Arctic, killer whales often dine on sea otters, while in the Californian coast, great white sharks consume many otters each year. Most sea lions aren’t picky eaters and feed a wide range of seafood. Other than sea otters, eared seals also feed on krill (an animal that closely resembles a shrimp), lobsters, crabs, crustaceans such as shrimps, and fish, among others.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'factsking_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',135,'0','0'])); White shark attacks are a leading cause of death among sea otters, especially in California. It is only after biting the sea otters that white sharks realize their mistake. As a result, the population of sea otters along the Californian coast has significantly decreased, raising concerns among conservationists. Sea urchins beware! In the U.S., there are two distinct sea otter subspecies, the Northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) and the Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis). In the water they need to watch out for both sharks and killer whales. This has led to a decline in sea otter numbers, especially in western Alaska. Bald eagles’ diet was once predominantly sea otter pups and kelp forest fish. Many farmers and ranchers regard them as destructive pests because they kill calves, lambs, and other livestock, as well as pets.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'factsking_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',131,'0','0'])); Bald eagles reside in their numbers along the Aleutian archipelago off the Alaskan coast. Due to the large size of the sea otters, there are few natural predator enemies. While feeding, Californian sea lions often cooperate with other species such as sea birds and dolphins.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'factsking_com-leader-2','ezslot_10',133,'0','0'])); Killer whales have not always preyed on sea otters. While they spend most of their time in the water, they regularly come to shore. The sea otter’s predator depends on where the specific sea otter lives. Sea lions are another major predator of sea otters. ( Log Out /  This competition has seen brown bears, which are quite adaptable, begin to prey on sea otters. Northern sea otters are found in the Aleutian Islands, Southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. As others have written, killer whales and sharks are the biggest threat to sea otters of all sizes if they are in the ocean. The sea otter’s diet includes about 40 marine species, including urchins, crabs, clams, abalones, mussels, and snails. Their favorite prey has always been sea lions and seals. Bald eagles get over 90 percent of their food from the ocean.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-leader-1','ezslot_2',132,'0','0'])); Sea otters were once dominant in the coastal marine environments, not far from the islands. Further, they consume cephalopods, birds, crustaceans, and, occasionally, other pinnipeds. These predators of sea urchins then proceed to crush their outer body with its powerful bit and sharp teeth. Different from true seals, they have external ear flaps. There are several other predators that the Otter has to worry about as well. Sea otter. ( Log Out /  Sea lions are a … However, these whales find Otters to be a great meal. Others, such as commercial fishermen, consider otters as competitors out to reduce their catch. Adults weigh up to 99 pounds and are the weasel family’s heaviest animals, but strangely the smallest of all marine mammals. 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