Sea Otter

The sea otter is a marine member of the weasel family found along North Pacific coasts. Dense fur traps air for insulation, and frequent grooming helps maintain it. Sea otters dive for shellfish, sea urchins and other animals living on or near the seabed. They often float on their backs while resting or handling food. Some use stones to break open hard-shelled prey. By feeding on sea urchins, sea otters can help maintain kelp forests where those ecological relationships occur.