Food preference may vary from otter to otter, although urchins, crabs and abalone appear to be preferred prey. Sea otters can dive up to 120 feet in search for food. Breeding and pupping occur throughout the year. Gestation varies from 4 to 12 months due to their ability to delay implantation and growth of embryo. This ensures that birth occurs when conditions are optimal to support a pup.
Females usually produce a pup every two years.
Birth of a single pup can take place on land or in the water. Pups nurse and remain with their mothers for 6 to 8 months. During the first few months, they spend a lot of time resting on their mother's belly to stay warm and safe. The wooly natal fur of the pup keeps it from being able to dive below the surface of the water. By three months, the pup has learned to groom its fur, and can dive, forage for food and use a tool to crack open shellfish.