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description: A science journalist's journey along the Pacific Coast from California to Alaska to track the status health habits personality and viability of sea otters--the appealing species unique to this coastline that was hunted to near extinction in the 18th and 19th centuries. These adorable furry marine mammals--often seen floating on their backs holding hands--reveal the health of the coastal ecosystem along the Pacific Ocean. Once hunted for their prized fur during the 1700s and 1800s these animals nearly went extinct. Only now nearly a century after hunting ceased are populations showing stable growth in some places. Sea otters are a keystone species in coastal areas feeding on sea urchins clams crab and other crustaceans. When they are present kelp beds are thick and healthy providing homes for an array of sealife. When otters disappear sea urchins take over and the kelp disappears along with all of the creatures that live in the beds. Now thanks to their protected status sea otters are floating around in coves in California Washington and Alaska.Todd McLeish is a science writer with three published books all on natural history topics: Narwhals Basking with Humpbacks and Golden Wings and Hairy Toes: New England Wildlife. He is a popular public speaker on cruise ships and at museums and environmental centers and has published articles on wildlife topics in Earthwatch Journal Bird Watcher's Digest WildBird and Natural New England among other publications.
language: English
title: Return of the Sea Otter
publisher: None