This week we’ve been privileged to see and share the birth of a wild sea otter pup right in our own backyard. Otterly amazing!
Not so long ago, sea otters were hunted nearly to extinction for their fur—but today, the sea otter population in Monterey Bay has rebounded thanks to legislative protection. If you’re a California resident, you can play a part in this ongoing success story by donating to the California Sea Otter fund on your California state tax return. The fund supports researchers and our many partners trying to understand the issues facing the threatened southern sea otter–and help the population recover!
Meet sea otter 808! This resilient pup was rescued by our Sea Otter Program team on December 14, 2017 after he stranded on Carmel Beach with injuries from shark bites.
Sea otter 808 is being treated with antibiotics and is taking solid food from Monterey Bay Aquarium staff, who are caring for the pup in a behind-the-scenes intensive care area. His most recent exam showed that the bites are beginning to heal and the pup is continuing to improve.
This pup is between six and eight weeks old. If he continues to improve, he’ll be introduced to one of our resident female otters, who will serve as a surrogate mother for the pup. Our plan is to raise the pup for return to the wild.
Fun fact about us: Monterey Bay Aquarium pioneered the rescue and care of stranded California sea otter pups more than 30 years ago. We are the only facility in the world that raises these pups for release to the wild, with the help of non-releasable exhibit otters, who serve as surrogate mothers for the pups.
Surrogate sea otter mom Selka and rescued sea otter pup 774.
Sea otter 808 is the 808th animal – either a stranded pup, or an ill or injured juvenile or adult sea otter – to be treated through our pioneering program since the 1980s.
Released pups and their offspring have significant positive impacts on the coastal habitats where they’re released:
Want to help stranded sea otter pups like 808?
Support the expansion of our Animal Care Center! This expanded center will nearly triple the size of our current facility, helping us meet the growing needs of ocean animals here at the Aquarium and in the wild.
Can you see us? It’s not always easy! With the great summer weather, boat traffic is up. Just this week a threatened southern sea otter was found dead on our coast. Autopsy showed severe blunt force trauma consistent with a boat strike. Be extra-vigilant and give sea otters a brake–it’s the law!
Learn more about sea otter conservation at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Our Newest Otter Pup Gets an A-Plus on Exhibit
Imagine that you’re a 10-week-old sea otter pup on exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. What do you do all day, while hundreds of happy faces press against the window?
Actually, your job is pretty simple, and consists of two main things: eat and grow.
Fortunately, it turns out that rescued otter number 572, who went on exhibit February 14, excels in both of these areas. He’s consuming shrimp, clams and squid, and now weighs almost 16 pounds. A small laceration—which we think came from a shark—is healing nicely.
Along the way, 572 has developed a great relationship with his companion, Joy, who happens to be an expert in all things otter pup. In her 13 years she’s helped raise 16 young sea otters, many of whom we have returned to the wild, where they’ve gone on to raise pups of their own. This grande dame of sea otter moms must be doing something right.
In addition to eating and growing, the young pup is doing some extracurricular work in the form of ice chewing and vigorously playing with enrichment toys like ice, Frisbees and balls. When he’s not jumping for joy, he’s jumping on Joy. The two like to wrestle and groom each other, which is a good practice for any sea otter, since well-groomed fur helps ensure it can withstand Monterey Bay’s chilly waters.
The pup will be with us for a while longer, but isn’t able to go back to the wild. He’ll find a permanent home later this year at another accredited public aquarium in the U.S.
You can see otter 572 on exhibit now, or via our live web cam!
After surviving a shark bite, an orphaned sea otter pup came into our care. Dr. Mike mended his wounds, resident sea otter Rosa took him under her paw—and now, otter 808 is ready for his next big adventure!
It’s not every day you get to watch a sea otter pup come into the world! But when a pregnant wild otter took shelter in our Great Tide Pool Saturday, we had a unique opportunity to see it happen. (Spoiler alert: the miracle of life is graphic!)
Sea otters can give birth in water or on land. You’ll notice that mom starts grooming her pup right away to help it stay warm and buoyant—a well-groomed sea otter pup is so buoyant it’s practically unsinkable!
Grooming also helps get the blood flowing and other internal systems revved up for a career of chomping on invertebrates and keeping nearshore ecosystems, like the kelp forests in Monterey Bay, and the eel grass at Elkhorn Slough, healthy.
Our sea otter researchers have been watching wild otters for years and have never seen a birth close up like this. We’re amazed and awed to have had a chance to witness this Monterey Bay conservation success story first hand in our own backyard. Welcome to the world, little otter!
This little sea otter pup had a rough start to life.
But thanks to the Oregon Zoo, he’s getting a second chance!
Toola, the “Most Important Animal” in the History of the Aquarium’s Sea Otter Program, Dies
The Monterey Bay Aquarium regrets to announce the death of Toola, a female sea otter who was arguably the most important animal in the 28-year history of the Aquarium’s pioneering Sea Otter Research and Conservation program. Toola died early March 3 in the Aquarium’s veterinary care center, of natural causes and infirmities of age.
She was the first rescued sea otter ever to raise pups that were successfully returned to the wild; and was the inspiration for state legislation that better protects sea otters.
Toola was about 15 or 16 years old when she died. She was rescued as a mature adult (5+ years of age) when she was found stranded on Pismo Beach on July 21, 2001. She suffered from neurological disorders, likely caused by infection of her brain by the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. The resulting seizure disorder required twice-daily anticonvulsant medication and prevented her release back into the wild.
But she quickly became a pioneer for the Aquarium – on exhibit and behind the scenes. Toola was the first otter ever to serve as a surrogate mother for stranded pups. She raised 13 pups over the years, including one that was weaned from her on Friday as her health declined. Of the 11 pups already released to the wild, at least 5 are still surviving – including the first animal she reared in 2001. Her pups have matured in the wild and gone on to give birth to 7 pups of their own, 5 of which have weaned successfully. Two more of her pups are still behind the scenes, on track for release later this year.
Toola’s most famous pup is the subject of a new feature film, Otter 501, which debuted in February at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.
On exhibit, Toola’s story of exposure to the toxoplasmosis parasite that can be carried by cats inspired then-California State Assemblymember (now Insurance Commissioner) Dave Jones to introduce legislation to better protect California’s threatened sea otter population. His bill, co-authored with current California Resources Secretary John Laird, became law in 2006. Among other provisions, it created the California Sea Otter Fund that has generated more than $1 million in voluntary taxpayer contributions to support research into disease and other threats facing sea otters in the wild.
“Toola was without question the most important animal in the history of our program,” said Andrew Johnson, manager of the Aquarium’s Sea Otter Research and Conservation program. “She showed us that captive otters could successfully raise orphaned pups for return to the wild. She inspired a critical piece of legislation that is helping protect sea otters. And she inspired millions of visitors to care more about sea otters. We will miss her.”
“I will argue that there is no other single sea otter that had a greater impact upon the sea otter species, the sea otter programs worldwide, and upon the interface between the sea otters’ scientific community and the public,” said Aquarium veterinarian Dr. Mike Murray.
Although she was at the Aquarium for more than a decade, she remained a wild animal at heart, said Associate Curator of Mammals Christine DeAngelo – and a strong-willed one, too.
“It was clear to everyone on the sea otter exhibit team that Toola, not me, was really in charge,” DeAngelo said. “When she wanted to work on something in a training session, she’d give me a ‘look’ or vocalize and I’d immediately cave in and do whatever she wanted. Now that she’s passed, we’re in need of another ‘head trainer’ to run the place.”
The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Research and Conservation program has been studying and trying to save the threatened southern sea otter since 1984. With the support of its research, exhibit and policy teams, and the backing of donors and members, the Aquarium has rescued nearly 600 ill and injured otters, raises and releases stranded pups, and has placed non-releasable animals on exhibit in Monterey and at other accredited Aquariums across North America.
The research team plays a key role in field studies of sea otters in California, Alaska and Russia. The Aquarium also works on behalf of policies at the state and federal level that will advance the recovery of sea otter populations.