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Article: Teddy bears of the ocean ... on a comeback. (sea otters)
- Article from:
- Sunset
- Article date:
- April 1, 1992
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1992 Sunset Publishing Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Here's where to see sea otters off the northern California coast
A CAPTIVATING PLAYFULNESS and winsome faces make sea otter the teddy bears of the ocean.
In spring, they're easier to spot, since they bunch up in visible clusters as the kelp forests where they live shrink. Births peak between January and March, making it more likely to see pups riding on their mothers' chests.
Once abundant from Baja to Alaska, sea otters were hunted nearly to extinction for their luxurious fur before this was prohibited by an international treaty in 1911. While their comeback in Alaska has been strong despite setbacks like the oil spill near Valdez in 1989, ...