Here are a few facts about southern sea otters that will help you get to know Buck and Emma better. Southern sea otters are found off the coast of central California. They were hunted to near extinction for their fur in the 18th and 19th centuries. There are usually two to 12 otters per raft. Sea otters sometimes wrap themselves in the kelp to keep from drifting away.
Sea otters have a strong sense of smell and good eyesight above and below water.
They use their whiskers to sense vibrations in the water. They have external ears like a sea lion and they fold their ears down when they dive for food. Southern sea otters can grow up to four feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds. They use tools for opening food. They often use rocks, shellfish or man-made objects to pry their food from rocks or to open it.