The sea otter is the smallest of the marine mammals and the largest member of the weasel family. Sea otters are larger than their relatives the river otters, and unlike the river otter, rarely come ashore. There are an estimated 1,000 sea otters in Washington; the population increase is due to conservation efforts in the state. Within the United States, sea otters occur in Alaska, Washington, and California. The current Washington state population of around 2,000 animals stems from 59 sea otters that were relocated to the Olympic Peninsula coast from Alaska's Aleutian Islands in 1969 and 1970. Additionally, increasing temperatures could promote survival of marine bacterial pathogens that infect sea otters and cause mortality, though there are high levels of uncertainty regarding the level of increase in and potential effects of bacterial pathogens on sea otters. The final pelt that was taken was sold by the hunter for $1,000, which at that time was enough to buy a house. The current Washington sea otter population is descended from between 10 to 43 individuals that survived the two initial reintroductions. The archaeological Seaside sea otters, Wellman said, cluster most closely with current Alaska sea otters, possibly reflecting the transition in genetic variation. For COVID-19-related closures, restrictions, and updates see the WDFW COVID-19/Coronavirus response page. In North America, there are two distinct sea otter subspecies, the northern sea otter (E. l. kenyoni) and the southern sea otter (E. l. nereis).Northern sea otters are found in the Aleutian Islands, South Central and Southeast Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. The sea otter’s historic range stretched along the Pacific Rim, from Japan, along the coast of Siberia and the Aleutian Chain to down the Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California coast to Baja California. Their sensitivity will be primarily due to changes in prey abundance (e.g., red urchins, clams, bivalves), particularly since sea otters require large amounts of prey (~30% of their body mass per day) to meet their metabolic requirements. Sea otters may also be sensitive to increased winter storm intensity and resulting high surf conditions that could result in higher mortality. Also, female sea otters give birth to just one pup at a time — river otters may give birth to several cubs in a litter. The small geographic ranges of the sea otter populations in California, Washington, and British Columbia mean a single major spill could be catastrophic for that state or province. We also welcome you to continue to submit otter sightings on our new Carnivore Spotter site, part of the Seattle Urban Carnivore Project. American Naturalist 120:242-258. Its pelt sold for $1,000, approximately $27,000 today. Lootas the sea otter died Sunday at age 23, the aquarium said in a … If you see this species, please share your observation using the. The Washington state population of around 2,000 animals stems from 59 sea otters that were relocated to the Olympic Peninsula coast from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands in 1969 and 1970. While our otter project has concluded, you can explore otter sightings reported to Otter Spotter from April 2016 to July 2019 in the map below. A variety of sea otter prey may be sensitive to increasing ocean acidity and possibly increasing water temperatures, and declines in prey abundance could impact sea otters, though their sensitivity may not be as high due to their ability to switch between prey species. Sea otters are considered a keystone species because of this effect. Thick, brown fur protects sea otters from cold ocean water. In Washington, it is limited in distribution to the marine waters from south of Destruction Island north to Cape Flattery, and east to Pillar Point in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The oldest sea otter to live at the Seattle Aquarium has died, the aquarium said. Within the United States, sea otters occur in Alaska, Washington, and California. Sea otters are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits commercial harvest of sea otters. The northern sea otters are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and were listed as endangered in 1981 in Washington state. Limited information is available regarding the response of sea otters to climate change, but as ocean temperature and other conditions vary, it seems likely they will be impacted to some extent. See below for further results from the river otter research project. That’s why sea otters were hunted to extinction: they were more valuable dead than alive. To learn more about sea otters in Washington State, please click on one of the links below: Process for obtaining sea otter specimens for scientific or educational purposes, What to do if you see a sea otter on the beach. Sea otters were successfully reintroduced to Washington, British Columbia and southeast Alaska fifty years ago. The Washington population had increased steadily from 59 individuals reintroduced in 1969 to 1970 to almost 1,600 otters in 2014. 59 sea otters were translocated from Amchitka Island to Washington in 1969 and 1970, with annual surveys between 2000 and 2004 recording between 504 and 743 individuals. Address goals and objective in WDFW’s sea otter recovery plan. In Washington, it is limited in distribution to the marine waters from south of Destruction Island north to Cape Flattery, and east to Pillar Point in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Historically, sea otter populations made a dramatic comeback after … The Southern, or California sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) is rare and declining at a disturbing rate. Remnant populations survived off central California and western Alaska. Some people estimate the number of … Otter mortality can result from oil spills and incidental capture in nets and traps set for fish, shell fish, and crabs. Moea is a Southern sea otter, who came to the Zoo after being rescued from an oil spill and rehabilitated at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Online ahead of print. 6. There are three subspecies of sea otters, two of which are found in the United States. For example, are there a spatial overlap between expanding sea otter population and razor clam and Dungeness crab fisheries? The current Washington state population of around 2,000 animals stems from 59 sea otters that were relocated to the Olympic Peninsula coast from … The state has listed the sea otter as an endangered species since 1981. 5. Jameson, R. J. and S. Jeffries. Facts about Washington River Otters Food and Feeding Habits. In comparison, river otters can be found in fresh, brackish, or salt water, and can travel overland for considerable distances. It uses rocks to break the shells and exoskeletons of its prey and expose the edible interior. The Northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) is found in Washington, Alaska and Canada, and populations are growing on the Pacific Northwest coast. In rough weather, otters take refuge among kelp or in coves and inlets. Sea otters live in shallow coastal waters in the northern Pacific. s ea o t r r i v e r o t t e r m u s k r a t m i n k h a r b o r s e a l 1 0 l b . Sea otters generally occupy the rocky nearshore environment in … The dense fur of the sea otter made its pelt extremely valuable to fur traders, which led to overexploitation of the species in the 1700s and 1800s. To complement that finding, the team also reached out to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. for a few rare sea otter specimens from the waning days of the fur trade when otters … The sea otter is found only in the northern Pacific Ocean. PORTLAND, Ore. — President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed this year’s federal budget, which includes a directive to study sea otter reintroduction in the Pacific Northwest. Identify potential areas for potential impacts of sea otters in coastal shellfish resources. Activity and prey selection in the sea otter: influence of population status on community structure. Kenyon, K. W. 1969. Calm and confident, she plays well with Sekiu and loves her food – especially mussels, “with crab coming a close second,” says Caryn Carter, staff biologist at … Sea otters were hunted to local extinction off the Pacific Northwest coast as part of the fur trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. The best way to go about getting one is to contact an exotic animal broker. Predation by sea otters on urchins has been found to maintain stability within marine invertebrate communities. It was the second of three pups she birthed in her 23 years. River otters in our region, on the other hand, are found all over Washington state and are commonly seen in pond and stream habitats as well as Puget Sound. Sea otters are commonly found in rocky marine habitats and kelp beds within 1.2 miles of the coast. Sea otters are the largest member of the weasel family and the smallest marine mammal. The sea otter is found only in the northern Pacific Ocean. CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS IN THE SEA OTTER (ENHYDRA LUTRIS) POPULATION IN WASHINGTON STATE, USA CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS IN THE SEA OTTER (ENHYDRA LUTRIS) POPULATION IN WASHINGTON STATE, USA J Wildl Dis. The current sea otter range in Washington extends from just south of Destruction Island on the outer coast to Pillar Point in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with concentrations in the vicinities of Destruction Island, Perkins Reef, Cape Johnson, Sand Point, Cape Alava, and Duk Point. Its pelt sold for $1,000, approximately $27,000 today. The sea otter population in Washington was listed as “endangered” under Washington State’s Endangered Species Act in 1981, due to its small … The charismatic sea otters are federally illegal due to … Historically, sea otter populations made a dramatic comeback after near extinction due to overhunting. The current Washington state population of around 2,000 animals stems from 59 sea otters that were relocated to the Olympic Peninsula coast from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands in … The last sea otter pelt was sold for $1,000 in 1910–enough money to buy a house in the early 20th century. They are now spread out between Point Grenville on the Quinault Reservation and Pillar Point in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 2013. The current Washington state population of around 2,000 animals stems from 59 sea otters that were relocated to the Olympic Peninsula coast from Alaska's Aleutian Islands in 1969 and 1970. Removing river otters from the wild in North America is a bad idea, and more likely to be illegal even if the state allows captive-bred otter ownership. [16] [49] [55] Prevention of oil spills and preparation to rescue otters if one … Washington State Periodic Status Review for the Sea Otter (2018), Washington State Recovery Plan for the Sea Otter (2004), Results of the 2013 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2012 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2011 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2010 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2009 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2008 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2007 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2006 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2005 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2004 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2003 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2002 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Results of the 2001 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State, Increased winter storm intensity and high surf conditions. Woodland Park Zoo, with help from Washington Sea Grant, is studying North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) populations to better understand their relationships within Washington State ecosystems. Just four years later, in 1910, the last wild sea otter in Washington state was killed. Historically, sea otters were native to Washington State waters, but they were driven to local extinction during the maritime fur trade from the 1700s to the early 1900s. Males in the Washington area can weigh up to 65 pounds and reach 4 feet in length. Observe some of the adorable sea otters on this HD live cam, belonging to the Seattle Aquarium, in the U.S. state of Washington, through a live stream between 9am and 6pm PST.This public aquarium, located on the Elliott Bay waterfront in the city of Seattle, receives over eight hundred thousand visitors per year, making them aware of people’s impact on marine life. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Lakewood, Washington. Just four years later, in 1910, the last wild sea otter in Washington was killed. Results of the 2012 survey of the reintroduced sea otter population in Washington state. Sea otters are carnivores and feed on urchins, crabs, clams, mussels, snails, and chitons. We lost our last native sea otter in 1910; a victim of the maritime fur trade. Sea otters are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits commercial harvest of sea otters. 2020 Jul 1. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-19-00008. Sea otters are acclimated to salt water, and come to shore only for occasional rest periods and to give birth. Females tend to use habitats closer to the shore than males. (Greg Gilbert / The Seattle Times) The current Washington state population of around 2,000 animals stems from 59 sea otters that were relocated to the Olympic Peninsula coast from Alaska's Aleutian Islands in 1969 and 1970. Seattle Aquarium sea otter Lootas cuddles a day-old pup on May 14, 2001. 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