Where do southern sea otters live?
Southern sea otters are found in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of central California. They range from Año Nuevo (9 miles north of Santa Cruz) to Purisima Point (just north of Point Conception). Additionally, there is a small colony off San Nicolas Island near Santa Barbara. Usually sea otters stay close to shore, but sometimes they are found out as far as 3 miles from shore. Otters rest in kelp forests, in groups called rafts. Often they will drape the kelp over their bodies to keep from drifting away. What are some threats to the sea otter? Now there are other threats to otters. Oil spills can be fatal to the sea otter and could cause this species to become extinct. Oil coats the fur, destroying the blanket of air that keeps the animal warm. This causes chilling and death (hypothermia). Increased pollution in our oceans is also a threat to sea otters. Fishing nets are another cause of sea otter deaths. Sea otters become caught in the nets and drown. Laws have been passed to limit th
