Northern Sea Otter by Madi Wakita

Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni)

by Madi Wakita

Summary, Description, and Ecology

Photo Courtesy of Alaska Department of Fish and Game

The Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni), found in southwestern Alaska, is the “largest species in the mustelid family,” even though it is one of the smallest marine animals. Its unique blubber layer provides it with insulation from cold waters, but also makes it very vulnerable to oil spills. Their high metabolism helps to maintain body temperature, but forces them to consume a large amount of prey, around “20-33% of their body weight per day” (Recovery Plan). Sea otters are an example of a k-selected species. They generally live to around 15-20 years and female otters do not start to breed until 2-5 years old; the average litter size is usually one pup, but they can give birth to twins.

Geographic and Population Changes

        

Photo Courtesy of Recovery Plan

Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service

           The Northern Sea Otter population has declined by 70% and was first noticed in the Aleutian archipelago. Sea otters are necessary protectors of kelp forests from destructive overgrazing. Because of the massive decline in sea otters, there has been a shift in the coastal ecosystem from kelp forests to deforested sea urchin barrens.

Listing Date and Type of Listing

Photo Courtesy of Marine Mammal Commission

            The Northern sea otter was listed as threatened on August 9^th, 2005 and continues to be on the threatened list today. In March 2006, they formed a recovery team to develop a draft recovery plan.

Cause of listing and Main threats to its Continued Existence

            The cause of the Northern sea otter’s decline is uncertain, but is most likely caused by the increased predation by the killer whale. The main threats to the Northern sea otter are: “predation, infectious disease, biotoxins, contaminants, oil spills, food limitation, disturbance, bycatch in fisheries, subsistence harvest, loss of habitat, and illegal take” (Recovery Plan).

Photo Courtesy of Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Photo Courtesy of Friends of the Sea Otter

Description of Recovery Plan

            The goal of a recovery plan is to “control or reduce threats to the southwest Alaska DPS of the northern sea otter to the extent that this DPS no longer requires the protection” (Recovery Plan).

Photo Courtesy of Pomegranate Company

It must also ensure not only the survival of sea otters, but the health of kelp forests through the otter urchin-kelp trophic cascade. Everyone, including federal agencies, must go through the US Fish and Wildlife Service to make sure that they are not endangering sea otters’ habitats.

What can you do?

            There are many ways to save the Northern Sea Otter, or sea otters in general. The Defenders of Wildlife, an organization dedicated to protecting animals and plants and the habitats they live in, have three main suggestions: adopt a sea otter, contact your government leaders, and being an advocate for wildlife. Through the “Adopt a Sea Otter” program, people can choose to spend around $20-50 to symbolically adopt a sea otter and the money goes directly toward protecting sea otters and their habitats. Even though we may think we have no voice, the Defenders of Wildlife assures us that

Photo Courtesy of the Defenders of Wildlife

every voice counts and we should exercise this to get necessary actions passed. However, we can be advocates in many different ways. By using social media or reaching out locally in the community, we can get the word out there and educate the public on how to protect these endangered species.

Other Resources: Websites to Check out!

1.    https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=wagc_seaotter&s_src=3WEW1800XXXXX&s_subsrc=110917_adopt_body_sea-otter/how-you-can-help

2.    http://www.defenders.org/take-action/actions

3.    http://www.defenders.org/wildlife-advocate-center

Works Cited

“Adopt a Sea Otter.” Wildlife Adoption and Gift Center, Defenders of Wildlife, secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=wagc_seaotter&s_src=3WEW1800XXXXX&s_subsrc=110917_adopt_body_sea-otter%2Fhow-you-can-help.

“Basic Facts about Sea Otters.” Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Sept. 2016, www.defenders.org/sea-otter/basic-facts.

“Current Action Alerts.” Defenders of Wildlife, www.defenders.org/take-action/actions.

“Friends of the Sea Otter.” Friends of the Sea Otter, 19 Jan. 2016, www.seaotters.org/.

Marine Mammals Management Office. Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter Recovery Plan. US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013.

“Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra Lutris Kenyoni) Species Profile.” Northern Sea Otter Species Profile, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=seaotter.main.

“Northern Sea Otter.” Marine Mammal Commission, www.mmc.gov/priority-topics/species-of-concern/northern-sea-otters/.

“Northern Sea Otter Notecard II.” Pomegranate, www.pomegranate.com/sc1488.html.

“Sea Otters and Endangered Species Act.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 11 Mar. 2014, www.fws.gov/alaska/fisheries/mmm/seaotters/criticalhabitat.htm.

“Threats to Sea Otters.” Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Sept. 2016, www.defenders.org/sea-otter/threats.

US Fish and Wildlife Service. “Northern Sea Otter.” Threatened and Endangered Species, May 2012.

“Wildlife Advocate Center.” Defenders of Wildlife, 15 Sept. 2014, www.defenders.org/wildlife-advocate-center.