Sea Otter Habitat

Sea otters have webbed feet water repellent fur to keep them dry and warm and nostrils and ears that close in the water. Sea otters inhabit coastal areas and islands of the eastern and western north pacific ocean.

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They enjoy the freshwater but they are also known to live in the saltwater of the oceans as well.

Sea otter habitat. Otters are adorable creatures that live both on land and in the water. Otter habitat and distribution. Sea otters often float at the waters surface lying on their backs in a posture of serene repose.

Sea otters live in shallow coastal waters off the northern pacific. Sea otters prefer coastal habitats within a mile of the shoreline. Alaska sea otters inhabit the coast of alaska including the aleutian islands and south along british columbia and washington.

Most sea otters remain in habitats with rocky substrate as their prey tend to be more plentiful in these areas. The sea otters usually live near the shore waters of the north pacific from japan north to the coast of the kamchatka peninsula then from alaska down along the pacific coast of north america to baja california. Otters are found on every single continent in the world except for australia and antarctica.

They hunt for food both in the water such as fish and then also land creatures including small reptiles. However large numbers of sea otters can deplete shellfish populations conflicting with fisheries for crabs clams and abalones. The russian northern sea otter enhyrda lutris lutris which lives in the kuril islands kamchatka peninsula and commander islands off russia the northern sea otter enhyrda lutris kenyoni which lives from the aleutian islands off alaska down to washington state and.

They live mainly on land that is very close to bodies of water. They are frequently found in protected harbors barrier reefs and kelp forests that offer shelter from wind and waves. They sleep this way often gathered in groups.

Most otters live in dens built by other animals such as beavers that are dug into the ground that have many channels and dry inner chambers. Sea otters have very distinct habitats. Otters are found almost all over the world and in many wet habitats such freshwater rivers lakes oceans coastlines and marshes.

Sea otter predation on the herbivorous urchins genus strongylocentrotus enables kelp forests and the fish associated with them to flourish. They are often mistaken for beavers though. Other places you will find them lingering include around rivers streams and lakes.

In the us there are two distinct sea otter subspecies the northern sea otter and the southern sea otter. Northern sea otters are found in the aleutian islands southern alaska british columbia and washington.