But a sea otter is a devoted mother. She feeds her pup rich milk, grooms its coat and carries it on her belly to keep it from harm. Mom and pup. Researchers have seen several pairs of mothers and their female offspring interacting in Monterey Bay. Researchers hope to learn more about kinship among sea otters, knowledge that may help us protect their population in the future.
Pups stay with their mothers for six months, on average.
While they're with her, they gradually learn the skills they need to survive. At about two and one-half months, when it loses its baby fur, a pup will follow its mother on dives. Week by week, a pup learns to forage, even picking up its mother's tastes in food. It learns to handle spiny urchins and pinching crab claws, and to break open shells with a rock. By the time most pups are six months old, they have the skills they need to live on their own.