Title: Microsoft Word - Document1 Author: Deborah Created Date: 3/28/2009 5:37:32 PM The sea otter is covered in dense fur that consists of two layers. Make sure you pick up used fishing line and hooks! Working together, citizens and scientists can make the land to sea connection a … Ultimately, the sea otters will show us if it is possible for them to re-colonize the bay. With your help we can use what we've learned about sea otter care and surrogacy to build their numbers, and also the health of California's essential coastal habitats. That's why keeping cats indoors (or in a catio!) Sea otters eat 25 percent of their body weight each day in sea urchins, crabs, clams, snails and other invertebrates. That's why keeping cats indoors (or in a catio!) In the protected environment of a zoological park, scientists can examine aspects of otter biology that are difficult to study in the wild. 1. Sea otters are usually solitary but are sometimes seen in groups—gatherings of up to 2,000 have been observed along the coast of Alaska. Support environmental legislation, such as the EPA, Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. In the 1900s, seas otters numbers were down in the 1000s-2000s because of the ongoing fur trade. …instead of allowing contaminated water to run off into storm drains. Take shorter showers, turn off water when not in use. …and speak out, both locally and nationally. It’s unnecessary unless you live in Flint, it’s wasteful of oil, it adds plastics to the system, and it’s less regulated than you might think. Unfortunately sea otters are having to fight off more than just predators to survive these days. “If sea otters are getting sick by accidentally eating pathogens that come from cat poop, we should all be worried,” Shapiro said. Scientist claim that up to 40 percent of these deaths are results of human pollution. Take them to a hazardous waste center. Kayakers and beach-goers can get too close and disturb resting or rafting otters, costing them energy. Sea otters are born swimmers with long, sleek, streamlined bodies with webbed feet. Now that you know how vital a sea otters’ role in the ecosystem is and why they’re threatened we want to let you in on 12 simple steps that will help to maintain and hopefully increase sea otter populations. Hundreds of thousands of sea otters used to live on the Pacific coast between northern Mexico to Alaska. How you can help southern sea otters. The mission of the giant otter research team is to understand if and how the demography, behaviour and health of giant otters are affected by the recent changes to their habitat. The two are directly related in that sea otters prey on sea urchins, which in turn can help foster kelp beds because urchins feast on kelp. We’ve teamed up with Adi Barocas in Peru, to understand what’s happening and what we can do to reverse the fortunes of this fantastic, charismatic species. 3) Use paper over plastic and Styrofoam. The unique opportunity to observe and learn directly from live animals increases public awareness and appreciation of wildlife. In addition, kelp forests capture carbon in these ecosystems which helps to offset carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. …about how you’re working toward healthy watersheds, and recruit them. Sea otters are not just cute animals swimming and splashing carefree offshore. (Joan Tisdale — Special to the Herald) Luckily, there are ways to paddle responsibly. The translocation program allowed the reintroduction of sea otters to San Nicolas Island but also required the removal of sea otters from a “no-otter” management zone. …your favorite environmental organizations financially, please do! The sea otter can usually be found in kelp beds, and looks very much like lumps of kelp. 7. … if you own property along the side of a stream. Please Help save the sea Otters How they got endangered References Sea Otters Habitat Sea World Entertainment WWF Mr Google My Brain Dictionary online (Thesaurus) Sea Otters numbers are rapidly decreasing. Dispose of hazardous wastes properly. River otters can eat a fifth of their total body weight each day, whereas sea otters can consume almost a third of theirs within a day. The same goes for dog waste. Since they must sleep at the surface, they often wrap themselves in giant kelp to keep from floating away. Sea otters floating in kelp. Get your car oil changed to prevent leaks. They keep sea urchin populations in check, which allows kelp to flourish and provides habitat for a host of other species. In theory, yes. Unlike some marine mammals, sea otters rely on thick fur instead of blubber to keep warm in the icy waters of the Pacific Ocean. The water runs very slowly through a drip system into the ground, getting where it needs to be and not running off wastefully. Use less water. It makes its way into waterways and the ocean very quickly. It can sometimes be difficult to see how our actions help the planet or its residents but, particularly regarding disturbance to sea otters by our recreation, there are simple things we can do to make their world safer and more peaceful. What We Can Learn about the Coast from Sick Sea Otters A new study finds cat poop parasites in otter brains. Sea otters can eat 25 to 30 percent of their body weight in one day, which would be equivalent to a 175-pound human eating 45 pounds of food in one day. Sea otters became endangered marine animals in 1972. The roots take in water, reducing the amount of runoff. Sea Otters Could Get New Home in San Francisco Bay. One example: Otters eat sea urchins. Finally, sea otters … Identify the location and range of the sea otter in Canada. Grow a garden. 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