Mammals Males weigh between 49 to 99 lbs and

are 4 to 5 ft in length Females weigh between 30 to 73 lb and

are 3-4 ½ ft in length Found along Pacific coastlines

Sea otters tend to rest together in single-sex groups called rafts

A raft typically contains 10 to 100 animals (male rafts being larger than female ones)

Sea urchins, abalone, mussels, clams, crabs, snails and about 40 other marine species

Have a very high metabolic rate

Sea otters eat approximately 25% of their weight in food each day

Can dive up to 330 feet when foraging for food

Use of rocks when hunting and feeding, which makes it one of the few mammal species to use tools

Males have multiple female partners Females mate once a year Usually give single birth (twins rarely) Mothers nurse and teach pups to forage

Listed as Endangered Historically hunted for their pelts Considered a Keystone Species

Regulate sea urchin populations In turn preserves kelp forests

Threats include: Oil spills Habitat loss Disease Fishing gear entrapment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdVuzK0iT58