1983

To survive in the wild, however, is not easy, particularly for a Carnivore and the otter will be lucky to reach the age of 4. However, there have been instances of otters living from 8-12 years, although possibly only one or two in a hundred will survive until this sort of age.

Asian Otters The Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) is the only species found in Europe and its population became very depleted.

The Fur Trade The current population of southern sea otters descended from a small surviving group of approximately 50 animals discovered off the Big Sur coastline in the early 1900s.

Southern sea otters are protected as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act. It is illegal to harm or kill them under that law, and also under the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act. Otters also protected by California state law.

Current Population Today, there are estimated to be just over 106,000 worldwide. Currently there are less than 3,000 Sea Otters in California. Washington, Canada and Alaska have about between 65,000 and 78,000 combined.

Historically, sea otters numbered between 150,000 and 300,000 animals throughout the Pacific Rim. The southern sea otter population, which once numbered about 16,000 animals, is hovering around 3,000 today….Sea Otter.

Keeping otters as pets isn’t good for the animals, either, Taylor says. In the wild, the freshwater-loving carnivores live in family groups of up to 15. This contrasts with their lives in captivity, where they’re isolated from other otters and often get no more than a dunking in the bathtub.

All sea otters are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and those in California and Southwest Alaska are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. We’re proud to expand upon Friends of the Sea Otter’s legacy of protection, advocacy and restoration work.

To prevent themselves from floating away in the swirling sea while they sleep, sea otters often entangle themselves in forests of kelp or giant seaweed to provide anchorage. This is also the reason why they hold hands. They do so in order to prevent themselves from drifting away from the group.

6) Otters are murderous, necrophilic aqua-weasels Other species may do more killing. But few species are violent in quite as disturbing a way as the otter. For one thing, sea otters murder other animals even when they don’t get food out of it, just for fun or something.

Sea otters hold hands to stop them from drifting apart and losing each other when they sleep in the water. Otters fear losing their mate to another male while sleeping. Holding hands helps protect them from predators as they group away from land.

Otters are social animals, they want and need much attention. Next to the cute and adorable part, when they cuddle and groom, there is also a much more annoying way they scream for your attention. And that happens on the moments you don’t want it to happen.

While river otters tend to live alone or in pairs, they often socialize in groups and are known for their playful behavior. The FWC said river otters, which belong to the weasel family, are not typically considered a threat to humans.

LIFE CYCLE: Male sea otters live between 10 and 15 years, while females live slightly longer, from 15 to 20 years.

Predators. Healthy adult otters have few predators. Very old otters and pups may fall prey to a number of land predators, including wolves, birds of prey, and large reptiles. Surprisingly, one possible threat to the Alaskan sea otter population is predation by killer whales.

Otters are one of the smartest species on the planet. We’re starting to realize how smart otters really are. They know how to play basketball. They know how to stack cups, They know how to use rocks to open clams.