Sea otters are vital to the health of our oceans, helping protect kelp forests through their role as keystone predators. Among other things, they’re mostly known for their voracious appetite and ability to control grazing populations of sea urchins, linking their population’s success to kelp forest conservation.

Historically, they’ve been hunted for their pelts – almost to extinction. Despite having nearly 1,000 individuals left, they rebounded thanks to repopulation efforts (famously spearheaded by the Monterey Bay Aquarium) and legal protections. Their relatively recent success has been somewhat lessened, however. Oil spills, disease, harmful algal blooms, climate change, and habitat pressures – including natural predators whose numbers are on the rise (this is a good thing!) – continue to threaten these iconic marine mammals.

Read more about sea otters in the Sierra Club article by our director, David Helvarg.