Wild Windows · Sea Otter
Enhydra lutris
A keystone marine mammal of the North Pacific, sea otters keep kelp forests healthy by preying on sea urchins. Hunted to near-extinction in the 18th and 19th centuries for the densest fur of any mammal, sea otters survive today in a handful of recovering populations.
Natural History
Habitat
Nearshore kelp forests and coastal waters of the North Pacific — California, Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and the Russian Far East.
Diet
Sea urchins, crabs, clams, mussels, abalone — they eat 25% of their body weight per day to fuel their high metabolism in cold water.
Lifespan
10 to 20 years in the wild.
Behavior
Tool users — they crack open shellfish on rocks balanced on their chests while floating on their backs. Sleep at the surface anchored in kelp or holding paws with another otter.
Classroom Facts
Live Cameras
Each listing is hand-verified for source, permission status, and viewing quality.
The Pacific's most charismatic keystone species.
Rescued Northern sea otters on Pier 59, Seattle.
Rescued otters in Stanley Park, British Columbia.
Use This With
Printable, photocopy-friendly, designed by educators. Pair them with any cam featuring this species.
Research-style ethogram for grades 6–12. Two pages: definitions of 12 mammal behaviors, plus a 30-minute one-zero observation log students fill in during a cam watch. Compatible with our giant panda, African elephant, sea otter, African lion, polar bear, mountain gorilla, and red panda pages.
