If sea otter populations continue to grow, perhaps they too will return to the region, he said. "We made a prediction recently in 2018 that the San Francisco Bay could probably currently support ...

Otter 841, California’s most ornery sea mammal, has returned to waters off Santa Cruz. Authorities warn surfers and swimmers to steer clear of the creature.

Some otters rely on tools to bust open hard-shelled prey items like snails, and a new study suggests this tool use is helping them to survive as their favorite, easier-to-eat foods disappear.

Otters are truly fascinating creatures. These unique marine mammals are known for their dense coats, round bodies and expressive faces. Unless you're lucky enough to live by an ocean where sea ...

Sea otters keep federal protections. Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire ...

Southern sea otters along the West coast were hunted almost to extinction for their thick, soft fur, only gaining protection in 1913 when California declared them a "fully protected mammal." ...

Both otters were rescued in California as pups. Photo courtesy of Terria Clay/New York Aquarium. The otters, now 10 and 13 years old, lived in several accredited zoos and aquariums before they made ...

The otter wouldn’t let go the end of the surfboard. The surfer, who was trying to spend his Sunday riding the waves near Santa Cruz, Calif., rocked the board back and forth, trying to nudge the ...

A sea otter appears off the coast of Ecola Point in Cannon Beach, Ore., on June 28, 2024. Photo courtesy of Chanel Hason. Oregon is the only West Coast state that’s no longer home to sea otters.

MONTEREY BAY, CALIF. — The 2½-week-old sea otter cried for help. Stranded in a tide pool after heavy winds and strong surf near the edge of the bay, it was ashore and alone. When Sandrine Hazan ...

The sea otter population in Elkhorn Slough has had its ups and downs, reflecting trends in the ongoing recovery of California’s sea otters. The slough’s initial recolonizing population of about 15 ...

A sea otter relocation plan could involve moving pups from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and dropping them off in parts of the San Francisco Bay. Not everyone thinks that's a good idea.