On land they have to be careful about coyotes. The young otters are hunted by sharks, predatory seabirds and animals. What are sea otters predators? Northern sea otters are found in the Aleutian Islands, Southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. They prey on crustaceans by using pairs of rocks to crush the outer shells, easily accessing the soft flesh inside. Reproduction. However, white sharks are believed to be keeping the otters from moving. read more, There are several other predators that the Otter has to worry about as well. Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem by Patricia Newman. They are adorable. Some predators like the great white shark may kill the otters but not feed on them. This forests provide cover and food for so many other marine animals. Sea Otters Are Keystone Predators. Advertisement Great white sharks are the primary predator in California. In the U.S., there are two distinct sea otter subspecies, the Northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) and the Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis). As otter populations recovered, these changes worked in reverse as the otters’ doings as a top predator flow down through the ecosystem. Sea lions are a … Sea Otters were added to the Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Act in 1970. Sea otters spend all of their time in the ocean, including sleeping. The otter is both prey and predator, as it is predator to some animals and yet is prey to others. Sea Otter Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan. The picture is happier in the Cordova area, where sea otters seem to be booming." As predators, sea otters maintain the balance of the kelp ecosystems. Facebook Twitter Share. Sea lions are a problem in some areas as well. 2. These predators hunt the gulls in different ways, depending on the predator’s strengths and weaknesses. The oil coats the fur, which causes the animal to become very cold and not be able to live. July 17, 2017 by GG. Eagles can be a problem too for the smaller Otters and the young. These animals have heavy fur. In Alaska, killer whales have taken out large numbers — 90 percent of the population! Those sea otters that live farther south, mostly hunt for a great white shark, and representatives of those sea otters that inhabit the more northern areas of the Pacific, hunt for killer whales. In the Arctic, killer whales often dine on sea otters, while in the Californian coast, great white sharks consume many otters each year. Source: otter-world.com. Common predators of sea otters include various predatory marine mammals such as orcas and sea lions. As sea otters declined (for reasons scientists are still trying to understand), their favorite prey—sea urchins—exploded in number. Otter Natural Predators. The otter faces numerous predators in both sea and land, so it must always be vigilant for threats. Do sea otters build their dams near/on the sea? View exhibit. Humans are one of the main enemies of sea otters, as on they are hunted mainly for their incredibly dense fur. Best Answers Sea otters are foragers that eat mostly hard-shelled invertebrates, including sea urchins and a variety of clams, mussels, and crabs. The younger sea otters can also be attacked on the water surface by bald eagles. The importance of predators can be seen in kelp forests, highly productive ecosystems that support highly diverse and abundance fish and invertebrates. read more. Sea otters in Elkhorn Slough, CA, an area of salt marshes and seagrass beds not usually considered their habitat. Humans do not usually eat sea otters and generally kill them by accident. The otter is predator to fish, eels in particular, but will also eat frogs, small birds, eggs and some small mammals. Do sea otters generally give birth in the water or on land. However, the animals prove a low threat, unlike humans. read more. Sea otters are also considered an apex predator in their estuary habitat, eating not only urchins but a variety of mollusks and crustaceans—including crabs. They avoid being captured with speed and agility. A third possible cause of extinction is the loss of interactions associated with keystone species. Sea otters, the “keystone predator" of Aleutian Islands’ kelp forests, experienced dramatic population declines in the 1990s. Because of the activity in the sea will never ends because many people rely their life on it as a fisherman, it means that the chance of oil spills will also be there. This a sea otter holding sea urchins which are a main food source for them. Sea Otter populations are slowly rising but they're very susceptible to natural predators. There are several other predators that the Otter has to worry about as well. 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