Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) have a range that covers the North Pacific, stretching around a coastline that extends between Japan, Russia, Alaska, and California. If there’s one thing sea otters can do, it’s eat. Studies have estimated that they need to eat between 19% and 39% of their body weight in food to meet their basic needs. To put this in perspective, this would be the equivalent of a person needing to eat about 20 pizzas every day.
Sea otters exhibit several interesting behaviors related to resting and survival:
Rafting: They float together in large groups known as "rafts," which can sometimes include over 100 individuals.
Paw Holding: To avoid drifting apart while sleeping or resting in ocean currents, they hold paws.
Kelp Anchors: They often wrap themselves in strands of kelp to act as a natural anchor, preventing them from floating away.
Tool Usage: Sea otters are among the few animals that use tools, utilizing rocks to crack open shellfish like clams, crabs, and mussels.
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I would often run into Sea Otters when diving in Monterey Bay. They are incredibly graceful underwater, and masters at popping abalone off their rocks!
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