The Sea Otter
The scientific name for the Sea Otter is Enhydra lutris which means they are in the weasel, badger and skunk family. They
are native to America and live along the shores of the North Pacific
Ocean from central California to the Soviet Union.
Sea otters eat sea urchins by crushing them with their teeth and
they eat shellfish and use rocks to open the shells on their tummies
while they float on their backs. That can be as messy as eating
spaghetti!
They don't have blubber to keep them warm so they really have
to keep their fur clean so that air can get underneath, against
the skin to insulate them. Oil spills mean a lot of trouble for
the sea otter. it messes up their fur and when they drink oily
water it makes them sick and they die.
by Kevin Powers and Cecily Green
Previous 