About Sitka, Alaska Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest Sea Otters, Raptors & Bears … Oh My! Status and Trends of Sea Otter Populations in Southeast Alaska, 1969–2003 Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5045 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Jointly supported by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S NPS/Jamie Womble By the early 1900s, sea otters were almost extirpated throughout much of their range due to commercial harvest. However, in southwest Alaska, sea otters have experienced a sharp population decline in the last 20 years. The males weigh 80–100 pounds but can weigh more than 100 pounds. Sea otter numbers in the Kodiak Archipelago, the Alaska Peninsula coast from Castle Cape to Cape Douglas, and Kamishak Bay in lower western Cook Inlet are stable and may be increasing (Coletti et al. Sea otters are not related to seals or sea lions, but are rather a member of the mink family. “The sea urchins can be ridiculously dense,” Konar said. The female sea otter pup, now They range from brown to black to even silver in color. An orphaned sea otter pup that was found in critical condition on an Anchor Point beach is now swimming and playing with a companion sea otter at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. 2010, USFWS 2013a, On the average, females are about 25 percent smaller than males. Email Us, Board of Fisheries and Game: Actions & Activities, Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS), About the Division of Commercial Fisheries, Western Alaska Salmon Stock Identification Program (WASSIP), Online General Season & Registration Permits, Subsistence and Personal Use Fishing Permits, CSIS – Community Subsistence Information System, The Technical Papers and Special Publications Series. Adults weigh 15 to 35 pounds (6.8–15 kg) and are 40 to 60 inches (102–152 cm) in length. An orphaned sea otter pup that was found in critical condition on an Anchor Point beach is now swimming and playing with a companion sea otter at the Alaska … An estimate of otter population size in Alaska was 98,780 among the three populations in 2013 ( USFWS, 2013 ) with observed annual growth rates in some areas reaching 16–20% ( Bodkin et al., 1999 ; Estes, 1990 ). In 2005, sea otter populations in the southwest Alaska population segment (which includes coastal habitat of Katmai National Park and Preserve) were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The sea otter was once abundant in a wide arc across the North Pacific ocean, from northern Japan to Alaska to Mexico. Habitat is Habitat is divided into currently un‐occupied areas (dark gray shaded areas) and occupied areas (colored polygons), with the latter divided into smaller sub‐regions for Bering Island was recolonized by … There are an estimated 650,000 hairs per square inch! Shop sea otter t-shirts created by independent artists from around the globe. The good smaritans followed the proper protocols when spotting a wild animals in distress: they called the Alaska SeaLife Center after observing the otter from a safe distance for more than an hour. To protect itself from the frigid waters, the sea otter's fur is the finest and densest of any animal. Sea Otter Reports To receive a copy of a publication or report listed here, please contact: Marine Mammals Management, U.S. The females are smaller, weighing 50–70 pounds. Sea otter populations in Alaska are now quite healthy. Alaskan sea otters are slightly larger than California sea otters Female: Female Alaskan sea otters measure up to 140 cm (55 in.) The male sea otter pup was spotted by residents near a beachfront home in Homer. Fish and Wildlife Service 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503 or call 907-786-3800 Sea otters are an important component of nearshore ecosystems in the northern Gulf of Alaska. A sea otter mother keeps her baby warm and dry above the water on Wild Alaska. Divers once annually harvested 6 million pounds (2.7 million kilograms) of … A sea otter pup, known as “Little Boy” was rescued in Kachemak Bay at about a week of age in 2015, and was brought to the Alaska SeaLife Center for raising and otter life skills. Sea Otter Furs are the most sought after furs. The Alaska SeaLife Center admitted a two-week-old sea otter pup to the Wildlife Response Program on November 12. Wildlife Quest & Fin Island Lodge Alaska Up-Close Exclusive Cruise Adventure Charters Great for Special Occasions Our Fleet Request a However, this did not prevent the sea otter population from continuing to decline, and in 1929, the last verified sea otter in Canada was shot and killed (Nichol, 2002). Mike Lockabey, of Wrangell, starts a discussion on solutions to sea otter management in Southeast Alaska on Wendesday, November 6, 2019, in Juneau, Alaska. in length at a million hairs per square inch makes them the most densest and desirable furs on the planet. It has been estimated that approximately three quarters of the sea otter population died Sea otter abundance in Yakutat Bay has also increased, by an estimated 14.6% per year, over the last decade, likely through reproduction, although some amount of … It is sometimes called the land otter (to distinguish from the sea otter). Be Unique. Their dense fur keeps them warm in the chilly northern waters. Alaska Sea Life Center Wikipedia – Sea Otter WWF Sea Otter Adoption Alaska Zoo Support Donations Another bit of information before we get to the pattern( I know, I know it’s a long intro 😛 ) Susitna the Sea Otter is named for Email Us, Board of Fisheries and Game: Actions & Activities, Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS), About the Division of Commercial Fisheries, Western Alaska Salmon Stock Identification Program (WASSIP), Online General Season & Registration Permits, Subsistence and Personal Use Fishing Permits, CSIS – Community Subsistence Information System, The Technical Papers and Special Publications Series, Special Status page for northern sea otter. size and health Graphs in Figure 2 show growth patterns observed in three sea otter population stocks in the north Pacific resulting from natural range expansion. Alaska is unique. There are an estimated 650,000 hairs per square inch! When prime, river otter fur appears black-brown, with the belly slightly lighter in color than its back. We print the highest quality sea otter t-shirts on the internet Description Only here, not in stores. Modern efforts in sea otter conservation began in the early 20th century, when the sea otter was nearly extinct due to large-scale commercial hunting. She was introduced to Pushki, another pup who was rescued in November. The sea otter spends most of its time in the water but, in some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest. A sea otter seen through a spotting scope. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean.Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (31 and 99 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. the Alaska sea otter population is divided into three stocks (Gorbics and Bodkin,2001). See the season finale Tuesday, March 24th at 10/9c, only on BBC America. Baby sea otter Juniper being cared for at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Adult sea otters may grow up to 5 feet in length. Fishermen have watched their harvest shrink as sea otters spread and colonize, Doherty said. In addition, the sea otter population size, density, and trajectory are all much greater in Alaska relative to California. Sea otters have strong effects on prey communities and sea otter numbers and behavior reflect habitat conditions; because of these I do custom work with sea otter furs...fur lap blankets, scarfs, trapper hats, headbands and... Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a Unlike seals, they stay warm in Alaska’s cold waters not by storing a thick layer of About 100 people from all … Image courtesy Daniela Ruiz, for USFS Sea otters are the largest member of the weasel family and can weigh up to 100 pounds. 2003). In the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, these sea otter populations were among the first to recover, however, they are now at an extreme low. In Southeast Alaska, USA, showing existing or potential sea otter habitat as‐of 2012, defined as the nearshore zone <100m in depth. 1 talking about this. 2009, Estes et al . In Alaska, sea otter populations in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska have stabilized or are continuing to increase. For many years, there were no sea otters in Canadian waters and most of the sea otters in the world were located in the Aleutian Islands, off of the coast of Alaska. (Alaska SeaLife Center) The pup has been stabilized and named Juniper. Now uncontrolled by sea otters, their natural predator — the urchin population — boomed both in body size and density. To seals or sea lions, but are rather a member of the mink family otters have experienced sharp... 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