​Human Impacts

• ​1900 the fur trade almost wiped them from existence.

• ​International Fur Seal Treaty signed in 1911, which protected otters from hunting, scientists estimate that only 13 small groups of sea otters still survived

• ​All sea otters in California today descend from a small population in Big Sur back in the 1930s.

Current ​Human Impacts

• ​Habitat Degradation

  • ​Runoff can affect their food source which could lead to them eating plastic.

  • Other pollution can entangle the sea otters cause them to choke or drown. Sea otters are affected with toxic and disease-causing parasites as a result.

• ​Oils Spills

  • ​Oil causes their fur to mat, which prevents it from insulating their bodies.

• ​Fishing nets

  • ​sea otters are getting caugh in nets

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​Sea Otters are still currently endangered