What habitats do sea otters prefer?
Sea otters find prey along rocky shores, on sandy seafloors and in coastal wetlands. In California, sea otters are closely associated with the kelp forest. Many kinds of prey live on and among the kelp, and the otters often wrap themselves in kelp strands to stay close to their favorite feeding grounds when resting. Sea otters actually help the kelp forest to thrive by eating sea urchins. In southern California, where sea otters have not made a comeback, sea urchins can get so numerous that they nibble the kelp forest down to stubs. In northern California, sea urchins and other invertebrates, such as limpets and snails, which consume kelp, are all kept in check by the otters.
