Young Sea Otters Die at Alarming Rate

The California sea otter population continues to struggle, according to a spring 2009 study conducted by The Otter Project, a nonprofit group dedicated to the recovery of the marine mammal. The number of dead otters has declined overall, but the deceased individuals tended to be pups or young adults, suggesting that they are dying at a worrisome young age. The Otter Project recently sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services for failure to lift a no otter zone, one change they feel will help to revive the population.