A Raft Of Sea Otters

Text and photographs reveal the physical characteristics and habits of the sea otter.

Sea otters are social creatures, sometimes found by the hundreds resting together on their backs. This is called a raft of otters! Otters sometimes tangle themselves in kelp to keep from drifting apart! Young readers will love learning more about how otters live and grow together. With photographs of otters enjoying their watery home, this volume introduces young readers to how baby otters are born and cared for. Approachable text aids in leaving lasting lessons for young scientists ready to jump into animal discovery.

Sea otters spend a lot of time together floating on their backs. It makes sense why a group of sea otters is called a raft. Young readers will learn how sea otters look, eat, and live in community.

More than 300 kinds of North American animals are listed as endangered or threatened -- at risk of dying out. These books present the stories of some of these animals and the efforts being made to save them.

Sea otters are cute looking, furry brown floatable and heavy species of otter. They are said to be able to float on water all day that even without having to go on land, they can survive. They are the smallest marine mammals and they belong to the weasel family. In this book you will learn many amazing facts about the sea otter. You will learn their peculiar physical features. You will know why they have very thick fur and why they need to groom themselves regularly. You will learn what they eat and what they drink. It is amazing how they can drink the ocean's salty water. This book will tell you how. How do sea otters get their food? Do they use tools for hunting? Are they social animals? How do they take care of their young? Why do female otters' noses bleed during the mating season? Who are their predators? What is a sea otter raft? Who are their nearest relatives? These questions and more will all be answered in this book. This book also comes with more than 20 colorful photos of the sea otter in its natural habitat. The mental picture drawn in our minds will help us better understand them.

A science journalist's journey along the Pacific Coast from California to Alaska to track the status, health, habits, personality, and viability of sea otters--the appealing species unique to this coastline that was hunted to near extinction in the 18th and 19th centuries. These 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 during the 1700s and 1800s, 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 sealife. When otters disappear, sea urchins take over, and the kelp disappears along with all of the creatures that live in the beds. Now, thanks to their protected status, sea otters are making a comeback in California, Washington, and Alaska.