A southern sea otter (not Otter 841!) enjoys the seafood bounty among the kelp a few yards from West Cliff Drive, near Indicators Surf Break, in Santa Cruz. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is home to many of the species, also known as California sea otters.
As members of the weasel or mustelid family, southern sea otters are the smallest marine mammal and are a keystone species in the kelp forest ecosystem. Their health is a good indicator of the health of other species and ecosystems nearby. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including kelp forests, estuaries, outer coves and bays, sandy beaches and local harbors. They have the thickest fur of any mammal, at 850,000 to 1 million hairs per square inch. Sea otters were once found in plentiful numbers all the way from Mexico to Alaska, and even Japan.
Currently, the California population of about 3,000 individuals range from Half Moon Bay to Point Conception. There is a much larger population of sea otters found in Alaska, and some are still found in Russia as well. Sea otters were hunted nearly to extinction for their luxurious fur. Although the population has rebounded, they are still listed as a threatened species and are especially vulnerable to the effects of oil spills.