A beach walk is soothing to the soul, so many wonders to see and experience. The sun, sounds, sea, and air are deeply restorative, where each wave and tide brings a fresh sense of possibility. With the pureness of salt air invigorating our lungs and the gentle crunch of shells and pebbles underfoot, it reminded me of Longfellow’s poem “The Secrets of the Sea”… as we strolled along the shore. The poet explores how the ocean is a mirror to the vastness of human experiences, and after almost eight decades of life one’s experience ledger is brimming. Filled with cherished memories, and a shared sense of anticipation and mystery exploring British Columbia’s outdoors…. what gift from nature will tomorrow bring? The morning’s spectacular sunrise was amazing enough for a kindly couple walking hand in hand along Hardy Bay.

Then, Nature provided Chris, Rosie and I with a poignant reminder of the ocean’s boundless wonder drawing our eyes to a nearby “Sea oOter” lazily floating in calm waters in absolute contentment. Sunlight glistened off its thick velvet-like fur; a remarkable mammal with a charm and influence that extends far beyond its captivating appearance. 

Sea Otters are a keystone species, playing a vital role in maintaining the balance and sustainability of nearshore marine ecosystems, in ways I never could have imagined before writing this article.

To our pleasure, Sea Otter sightings are becoming increasingly more common along the green shallow shores of North Vancouver Island. We never tire watching these expressive mammals playfully tumbling through kelp, their teddy bear faces, curious dark eyes, and dexterous paws evoke images of a mythical sea-going Koala …  animals deeply connected to their surroundings.

Known by some as the “old man of the sea” they were once eradicated from Vancouver Island’s cold nutrient-rich waters. They have however, rebounded from near extinction along our northern coastlines. Thanks to conservation efforts in 1969-1972, “eighty-nine” sea otters from Alaska were reintroduced to Kyuquot Sound on Vancouver Island’s west coast. The success of this program is seen today in playful antics of otters rolling through kelp, grooming their luxurious coats, using rocks to crack open shellfish. To many they are a cherished symbol of the region’s coastal identity, as they float effortlessly on their backs. Their presence brings both joy, intrigue, and perhaps apprehension to some as a seafood competitor.

As playful as they appear, Sea Otters spend much of their day foraging when they are not grooming or caring for young called cubs or kittens. They are highly adapted to ocean life, possessing the densest fur of any animal in the animal kingdom; one hundred thousand hairs per square centimetre, a density that is absolutely essential for thermal insulation in chilly northern waters. To maintain insulating properties otters must spend five or more hours a day grooming their fur! Without constant care, the delicate hairs would mat, bridging cold water to skin bringing with it hypothermia and death. 

I was surprised to learn Sea Otters, unlike most other marine mammals, lack a thick layer of blubber, and rely exclusively on their luxuriant fur to keep warm.

Sea Otters live ten to fifteen years or more and most spend the entirety of their lives at sea; only rarely do they haul out onto land. They even give birth in the water! Their ability to thrive in cold sea environments is due to unique evolutionary adaptations, primarily focusing on advanced thermo-regulation. They are the only “marine mammals” that rely exclusively on dense fur and an extremely high metabolic rate to maintain a core body temperature of approximately 37.8°C. 

They also have two and a half to three times the lung capacity and oversized kidneys of similarly sized mammals. Likewise, webbed feet, armpit pockets for rocks, and whisker sensitivity that can detect food are also features adapted to a life at sea. Neat, eh!

Sea Otters are incredibly social and often gather in large groups called rafts, sometimes numbering in the hundreds! Gatherings are thought to be restful opportunities providing safety in numbers. 

Whatever the purpose, a raft of otters are playful, yet surprisingly quiet with only a few whistles grunts, clicks, and coos as they play, enriching their social and ecological roles in their own distinctive way…. Not to mention our viewing pleasure as we watch their entertaining, inquisitive antics.

Otters are known for using tools, a behaviour that sets them apart from most other marine mammals. Using a paw with nimbleness, they take a rock or other hard object out of their armpit pocket and use it to crack open shells and crustaceans; whilst calmly floating on their back, revealing a remarkable level of intelligence and dexterity. They will then replace the rock back in the pocket for safe keeping, then eat their shelled food. Some researchers have noted some otters will use the same rock tool for years! Amazing, eh!

Central to the otter’s daily existence is its insatiable appetite. Sea otters must consume up to a quarter of their body weight (adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg) each day to fuel their high metabolic rates! Their diet is diverse and includes sea urchins, crabs, clams, snails, and mussels. By preying on sea urchins, (which can devastate kelp forests if unchecked), otters help maintain the balance and biodiversity of coastal marine habitats. The foraging activities of sea otters are unwitting sea gardeners, their efforts cultivate nursery grounds for countless marine fin fish species!

Females will give birth to one “pup” annually and rearing of young are intimate and tender processes for sea otters. Their gestation period is about six months. Pups are born with a thick woolly coat that traps air and keeps them buoyant. Remarkably, they cannot dive at this stage and mothers are sole provider and must devote themselves entirely to their offspring; feeding, grooming, and teaching essential survival skills. When a mother needs to dive she sometimes wraps her pup in kelp so it doesn’t drift away while she is submerged. The strong maternal bond in the Wild Kingdom ensures the next generation is well-prepared to navigate the complexities of the otter’s marine world.

As pups mature, they gradually take on full responsibilities of independent life. They learn to dive at about eight to ten weeks old, to hunt and escape predators, skills practised first in the safety of their mother’s embrace and later perfected in the wider world of the kelp forest. Juvenile otters stay with mom for about a year or longer and are especially playful during this time. It is enjoyable entertainment to watch them engaging in mock battles and games that serve both as exercise and as crucial training for adulthood. This period of development is critical, given the challenges and dangers of the North Island coastal environment. The success of offspring nurturing is well evidenced in the dramatic increase from 89  otters to the numbers we see today over the course of 53 years.

The history of the Pacific Northwest Sea Otter is marked by hardship and then triumph through successful conservation interventions. From the late 1700s into the 19th century, the species suffered catastrophic declines from an estimated 52,000 due to the fur trade. Prized for their exceptionally soft and valuable pelts, Sea Otter populations were hunted to near extinction throughout much of their range. By the early 20th century, only a few small, isolated colonies remained in the Pacific Northwest; a once-abundant presence reduced to scattered remnants on the brink of vanishing forever.

While conservation efforts to restore otters to historical levels initially faced skepticism and logistical challenges, Sea Otter populations have bounced back to an estimated 8,000 today. As otters returned, kelp forests at the mercy of sea urchin predation during the otter’s absence, began to thrive once again, quadrupling kelp bed size in short order, highlighting a positive and significant ecological effect of the otter’s presence. The otters’ choice food source is sea urchin, and once predators populations of undersea vegetation were kept in check, the flora grew robustly, creating new lush underwater forests with a return of diverse marine life. Remarkably, healthy undersea habitats are essential not only for fish and invertebrates but also play a role in protecting coastlines from erosion! Another side benefit of renewed shore flora is the sequestering of carbon, contributing to climate resilience. Who could have envisioned the return of a coastal mammal would have such a positive domino ecological effect? Interesting, eh!

Sea Otter reintroduction has also fostered broader ecosystem changes. For example, while the return of otters to regions near Vancouver Island has led to a decrease in revenues of shallow water crab and other shellfish sectors, it has increased diversity and abundance of revenues from other commercially viable fish sector species. Researchers have documented that healthy kelp forests growth facilitated by otters provide nursery grounds for Salmon, Lingcod, Rockfish and other fin fish species.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have reported that coastal ecosystems, when otters are present, are more productive economically in the broader sense, equating a reduction of invertebrate harvesting is offset by an increase of fin fish catches and tourism opportunities with a combined net revenue increase of up to $50 million annually! The presence of frolicking otters has even benefited seabirds, whose food sources are now more abundant in restored marine flora environments. These examples highlight how reintroduction of natural species and natural behaviours can trigger cascading ecological effects, that in the case of otter reintroduction has enhanced the overall productivity and stability of coastal environments.

Today, the distribution of the Pacific Northwest Sea Otter is a contrast reflecting both successful recoveries and ongoing vulnerabilities. Growing populations are thriving in British Columbia yet, modern threats, oil spills, entanglement in fishing gear, disease, and the ever-present pressure of a changing climate, continue to challenge their survival. It is reported Killer Whale predation is also a threat.

While the sea otter’s story is one of both hope and caution, the Pacific Northwest population of 8,000 is still far below historic levels of 52,000. Because of ongoing risks to their survival, the Pacific Northwest Sea Otter is designated as a species at risk in Canada. Legal protections, habitat conservation efforts, and public education campaigns are essential to their continued recovery. Still, the presence of Sea Otters in Hardy Bay signals a viable healthy coastal ecosystem, and their fate is intertwined with that of a pristine marine environment communities must sustain. Protecting Sea Otters is not just about saving a single species, it is about safeguarding the integrity and diversity of the Pacific Northwest’s oceanic heritage.

Isn’t nature grand

Safe travels,

Gord