The Extraordinary Sea Otter
Tour the special places that play a part in the past, present and future recovery of California's sea otters!
Southern Sea Otters
More than just a pretty face...
Southern sea otters play a critical role as a keystone species, which means they have a profound positive impact on the nearshore ecosystems in which they live. For example, by consuming sea urchins, sea otters help keep urchin populations in balance; in turn, the kelp forests flourish. For kelp forests, sea urchins and sea otters to thrive in their highly interconnected ecosystem, they must coexist with another species that has a profound impact on others: humans.
Southern sea otters munch on sea urchins off the coast of California (photo taken from shore with a 400 mm zoom by Joan Tisdale). For more information on safe sea otter photography guidelines, click here!
Southern sea otter current range shown here in blue
Southern sea otters are currently found from Pigeon Point to Gaviota, CA, but this is just a fraction of the range they used to inhabit, which extended from Baja along the entire California coast and into Oregon, where it merged with northern sea otters that scientists now consider a separate subspecies. Intense hunting throughout the 19th century nearly wiped out the species in California except for a small remnant group along the Big Sur Coast. With international and federal protections, the sea otter population has clawed its way toward recovery over the past 100 years or so, but it hasn’t expanded beyond its roughly 300-mile range for more than two decades.
Any chance of reclaiming their full historic range depends on navigating threats from white sharks and oil spills, surmounting challenges from land-borne diseases and achieving true coexistence with humans.
Sea otter raft floating among kelp in the surf (photo taken from shore with a 400 mm zoom by Joan Tisdale)
Thanks to the many wildlife viewing points and overlooks along California’s rugged coastline and cliffs, it’s fairly easy to go sea otter spotting. If you visit this stretch of the California coast, you might be lucky enough to view sea otters on their own or floating in groups, known as rafts, without even getting your feet wet! Let’s take a look at some of the best locations to view sea otters and learn about the places in coastal California that have played an important role in sea otter history, research and conservation.
Please note: Website links and additional information can be found by clicking on each location icon in the map below.
Let's follow the California Current southward as the sea otter swims to find stories and information about sea otters past and present...
You can view and learn about sea otters in many places along the coast.
As you scroll through this map tour, be sure to click on each point for more information.
You'll notice each point on the map is represented with a particular icon. These icons highlight what each site is most known for in the sea otter's story. Here's what each of them represents:
A story of sea otters past: the San Francisco Bay area
These days, you won’t find sea otters in the San Francisco Bay Area; however, the region played a major role as a hub for the fur trade during the sea otters’ historic decline.
Sea otter spotting and research around Santa Cruz
This area is home to the Long Marine Lab research station, which contributes cutting-edge science to support sea otter conservation and recovery efforts.
Sea otter research and education in Monterey Bay
Just south of the Long Marine Lab is another major research station: the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Both of these facilities support scientific research and provide opportunities for public education and increased sea otter awareness.
Historic comeback in Big Sur!
All sea otters in California today descend from a small population in Big Sur back in the 1930s. Before that, they were believed to be extinct!
Sea otter viewing around San Luis Obispo
This area is a sea otter disturbance hotspot, so when visiting be sure to respect the nap !
Viewing near Santa Barbara and Los Angeles
The southernmost extent of the sea otter's current range.
Sea otter conservation in Baja California
This area holds the promise that sea otters might one day return and begin to inhabit their pre-fur trade range.
Sea otter viewing provides a fantastic opportunity for public education and ecotourism.
Opportunities to view sea otters at these and other locations can foster people’s connection with and appreciation for these beautiful animals. Unfortunately, these opportunities are rife with potential for human-caused disturbance.
For example, some viewers will take to the sea in kayaks and other small watercraft, hoping for close encounters with sea otters. Without proper guidance, these encounters can cause repeated disruption to resting otters. Sea Otter Savvy, Defenders of Wildlife and other groups seek to mitigate this disturbance while encouraging responsible wildlife viewing. The goal of Sea Otter Savvy is to foster awareness and stewardship in Central California coastal communities and the wildlife-viewing public, to reduce human-sea otter conflict and disturbance and to promote an ethic of coexistence.
Photos above: Sea otter viewing do's and don'ts (images and graphic from Sea Otter Savvy); Photo at right: Sea otter at Otter Harbor in Moss Landing (photo by Gena Bentall)
Join us in protecting sea otters!
Respect the Nap
Whenever viewing sea otters in the wild, remember that their health and well-being comes first! Sea otters live an incredibly delicate and vulnerable existence. Living close to shore in shallow waters, sea otters are more accessible to people than most other marine mammals and often live near highly urbanized areas. A life in the cold ocean means sea otters must eat and groom a lot to maintain body temperature.
Sea otter females and pup resting (photo taken from shore with a 300 mm zoom by Gena Bentall)
Sea otter moms with young pups must work twice as hard to survive. When viewers get too close to an otter, they often cause it to wake up, become alert and swim away, which forces the otter to find extra food to recover that wasted energy. In some places along the central California coast, human activities like kayaking, boating and diving are very popular, resulting in chronic disturbance. Keep an eye out for these “Disturbance Hot Spots” on our map and use extra care to respect the nap of sea otters living there. Disturbance, no matter how slight, can have detrimental effects on sea otters, especially moms and pups. Be Sea Otter Savvy by brushing up on our guidelines before you go!
Sea otter grooms his fur in an estuary (photo taken from shore with a 150 mm zoom by Gena Bentall)
Share your sightings with us!
As we continue our efforts to protect sea otters and ensure safe wildlife viewing, we would love to know the places along the California coast where you have seen these incredible creatures.
Add your sightings and photos to our map below and include as much or as little information as you like! When photographing sea otters, be sure to give them plenty of space (at least 5 kayak lengths or 60 feet). Learn more tips for photographing sea otters at www.seaottersavvy.org .
Sea Otter Sightings Survey
Map of sea otter sightings based on points submitted in the survey above. Zoom in or out on the map to see your entry appear!
Going out sea otter spotting can be a great way to learn about this extraordinary marine mammal, but we all need to remember to be Sea Otter Savvy while doing so. Maintaining sufficient space between you and sea otters and respecting the nap are critical to keeping this species afloat.
