Alaskan sea otters are at the heart of the sea otter’s historical range, and since the end of the fur trade, have rebounded unlike in many other regions. 

From the Aleutian Islands to British Columbia, sea otters number approximately 70,000. 

These sea otters are currently facing a bill that would reauthorize the sea otter fur trade for segments of the Alaskan sea otter range. 

Water quality plays a significant role in sea otter health, which is why FSO is teaming up with the California Department of Public Health and asking volunteers to collect water samples all along the coast of California. The data from the water samples will ultimately be  received and used by researchers working with otters and other sea mammals (to see the monthly reports using our volunteer data, please click here). Volunteers are needed to collect samples at locations along the coast where the southern sea otter call  home (San Francisco to Santa Barbara). Sampling   takes only about 15 minutes and must be done weekly; if we get enough interest, teams can be created so that individuals can take turns with sampling throughout the month.

Please read more about the phytoplankton monitoring program here.

FSO will be reintroducing our Otter Spotting program and are looking for volunteers to take to the Monterey coastline in 2012 to look for sea otters, record pertinent information for research purposes and to promote the involvement of the community in our efforts.

Interested?  Please email info@seaotters.org for further information and announcements to when the program will officially launch.

Photo to the right: Spot sea otters, honor Jud Vandevere

Click here to learn more.