Sea Otters

Historically, sea otters (Enhydra lutris) inhabited coastal waters from Baja California north to the coast of southern Alaska, west across the Aleutian islands to the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, and south to the northern islands of Japan. Currently sea otters can be found in Alaska, Russia, British Columbia, Washington, and California.
The northern sea otter subspecies (E. lutris kenyoni), is found in the Aleutian Islands, Southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. Within Alaska, there are 3 stocks. The Southeast stock can be found in the coastal waters of Southeast Alaska. The Southcentral population spans from west of Glacier Bay to the eastern edge of Cook Inlet. The Southwest population stretches from the western edge of Cook Inlet out the Aleutian islands.

Fast Facts

• Size
  50–100 pounds, up to 5 feet in length.
• Lifespan
  15–20 years
• Distribution
  Alaska, Russia, British Columbia, Washington, and California
• Diet
  Invertebrates and fish
• Predators
  Killer whales and bald eagles
• Reproduction
  1 pup per year
• Remarks
  Rely on their fur rather than blubber to keep warm
• Other names
  Old Man of the Sea