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Sea Otters of Monterey Bay
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Sea otters are a common sight along the Monterey coast as they inhabit the
nearshore kelp forests. The otters, which were once nearly hunted to
extinction, now number just over 2,000 individuals. Sea otters are easily
observed on all Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips as they rest within the
kelp or feed near the kelp
on seastars, crabs, urchins, and abalone. After the otters capture a prey
item, they bring it to the surface, place it on their belly while floating on
their back, and crack it open with their powerful teeth.
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 Sea Otter Resting in Kelp |
During mating or courting bouts, a male and female otter will pair up and remain together for several days. During mating, the male grabs onto the female's nose to stabilize himself. The result leaves female otters with red wounds or scars on their noses. This is really the only way to distinguish males from females.
Pups can be born year-round with a peak during the winter. Newborn pups appear as a small ball of fur and are too buoyant to dive with their mother, so they wait on the surface and emanate a loud scream until their mother relocates them after a feeding dive.
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