Welcome to the World of Sea Otter
Sea Otter
Enhydra lutris
Also known as: Northern sea otter
Average lifespan: 15–20 years
Primary habitat: Coastal kelp forests
Geographic range: North Pacific Ocean
Overview
Sea otters are small marine mammals known for their intelligence, playful behavior, and critical role in maintaining healthy kelp forests. As one of the few animals that use tools, they help control sea urchin populations that would otherwise destroy kelp ecosystems. Their recovery is considered a major conservation success in many regions.
What It Looks Like
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Compact body with dense brown fur
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Rounded head with short snout
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Webbed hind feet for swimming
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Small front paws used for handling food
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Thick fur that traps air for insulation
How It Behaves
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Mostly active during the day
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Often floats on its back while resting
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Uses rocks as tools to open shellfish
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Forms groups called rafts
What It Eats
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Sea urchins, crabs, and shellfish
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Snails and clams
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Carnivorous marine forager
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Eats a large portion of its body weight daily
Life Cycle
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Mating occurs year-round
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Females give birth to a single pup
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Mothers carry pups on their chest while swimming
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Pups are dependent for several months
Survival Skills
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Thickest fur of any mammal
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Tool use for accessing food
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High metabolism to stay warm
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Floating behavior conserves energy
Fast Facts
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Keystone species in kelp ecosystems
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Uses tools more than any other marine mammal
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Can eat up to 25% of its body weight daily
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Sleeps while holding hands to stay together
Conservation
​Sea otters are keystone species that protect kelp forests by controlling sea urchin populations, which helps maintain healthy coastal ecosystems and supports biodiversity and fisheries. Once hunted nearly to extinction for their fur, sea otters are still threatened by oil spills, pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, disease, and habitat degradation. Conservation efforts focus on legal protections, habitat restoration, pollution prevention, rescue and rehabilitation programs, and long-term monitoring to ensure sea otters continue to safeguard coastal marine environments.​