The Sea Otter is the heaviest member of the weasel family and one of the few non-primate mammals known to use tools, cracking shellfish open with rocks while floating on its back. It has the densest fur of any mammal—up to one million hairs per square inch—which traps air for insulation since it lacks blubber. Sea otters are a keystone species in kelp forest ecosystems, controlling sea urchin populations.
Best time to see a Sea Otter
The best time to see a Sea Otter is March–August, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 15,296 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Sea Otter? What animal is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Sea Otter sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spotted a Sea Otter?
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