Return of the Sea Otter
The Story of the Animal That Evaded Extinction on the Pacific Coast
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
"Captivating. . . . a full portrait of this adorable and ecologically important animal." —Publishers Weekly
A science journalist travels the Pacific Coast in search of sea otters in this entertaining and inspiring book on the importance and history of this charismatic endangered species
Sea otters—the adorable, furry marine mammals often seen floating on their backs holding hands—reveal the health of the coastal ecosystem along the Pacific Ocean. Once hunted for their prized fur in the 18th and 19th centuries, these animals nearly went extinct. Only now, nearly a century after hunting ceased, are populations showing stable growth in some places. Sea otters are a keystone species in coastal areas, feeding on sea urchins, clams, crab, and other crustaceans. When they are present, kelp beds are thick and healthy, providing homes for an array of sea life. When otters disappear, sea urchins take over, and the kelp disappears along with all the creatures that live in the beds. Now, thanks to their protected status, sea otters are making a comeback in California, Washington, and Alaska.
In this hopeful book, science writer Todd McLeish embarks on an epic journey along the Pacific Coast—traveling from California to Alaska—to track the status, health, habits, personality, and viability of sea otters, and reveals how conservationists brought them back from the brink of extinction.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Sea otters are "remarkable creatures who exert a dramatic positive influence on the health of at least two very different marine ecosystems," proclaims science writer McLeish (Basking with Humpbacks) in this charming volume that examines the creature's great popularity with the general public. Early chapters discuss the physical make-up of otters and explore how their "unique physiology and tool use" help them stand out among other mammals. McLeish also looks at the ways in which sea-otter numbers have fluctuated over the past few centuries, primarily due to the huge increase in global demand for their pelts during the late 18th and early 19th centuries that nearly led to the creature's extinction. Subsequent sections of the book recall McLeish's more recent visits with sea-otter rescuers and researchers along the West Coast. Experiences in Monterey, Calif., home to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, prove especially captivating. He also highlights the significant work done every day by biologists, veterinarians, and volunteers who study sea otter "movement patterns, social interactions, behavior, diet, and reproductive success." McLeish does well to provide a full portrait of this adorable and ecologically important animal. Color photos.
