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Sea otters are crucial indicators of the health of our nearshore waters and coastal resources, from kelp forests to fisheries. What clues does the sea otter's decline hold for our knowledge of ecosystem and global change? U.S. and Canadian researchers have teamed together to  investigate.



  • The Investigation
    Explore the scene and hunt for clues in sea otters and the nearshore ecosystem
  • A Team Effort
    Meet the investigators and partners and see where they work
  • For Policymakers
    Retrieve memos and contacts explaining project implications for your region
  • For Media
    Download press kits and multimedia packages
  • For Scientists/Managers
    Look up detailed study plans, publications and briefings generated by project scientists

NEWS AND FIELD JOURNALS

Aug 21, 2012: Recovery Slows for California’s Sea Otters, 2012 Survey Shows (USGS Newsroom)
Aug 21, 2012: Sea Otter Numbers Up, But So Are Deaths (San Francisco Chronicle)
Feb 28, 2012: VIDEO: Scientists Capture Otters in Alaska (New York Times)
Feb 27, 2012: Pacific Sea Otters’ Failure to Thrive Confounds Wildlife Sleuths (New York Times)
Feb 27, 2012: Sharks Pose Growing Threat to California Otter Survival (New York Times)
Feb 24, 2012: Number of Dead California Sea Otters Recovered in 2011 a Record High (USGS Newsroom)
Feb 19, 2012: Chain of Cat Feces Can Harm Humans, Sea Otters (CNN)
Feb 16, 2012: Exxon Valdez Oil Walloping Mom and Pup Sea Otters (Mother Jones)
Feb 16, 2012: Great whites taking a bite out of California sea otter population (San Jose Mercury News)
Feb 03, 2012: Sea Otter, Hear Otter (USGS WERC)
Jan 25, 2012: Once Near Extinction, Sea Otters Survival Rates Boosted By Extensive Research (Capital Public Radio)
Oct 06, 2011: What 300 Sea Otters Can Tell Us About the Ocean (WIRED)
Aug 21, 2011: Nearshore Project Washington Expedition, August 9 (FIELD JOURNAL)
Aug 19, 2011: Nearshore Project Washington Expedition, August 8 (FIELD JOURNAL)
Aug 18, 2011: Nearshore Project Washington Expedition, August 7 (FIELD JOURNAL)
Aug 17, 2011: Nearshore Project Washington Expedition, Part 2 (FIELD JOURNAL)
Aug 16, 2011: Nearshore Project Washington Expedition, Part 1 (FIELD JOURNAL)
Aug 09, 2011: You Otter Give Blood (Monterey Bay Aquarium)
Aug 01, 2011: Biologists Draw Blood in Forks, WA (USGS WERC)
Aug 01, 2011: Biologists to Conduct Sea Otter Expedition from Forks, Wash. (USGS Newsroom)
Jul 27, 2011: Nearshore Project Vancouver Expedition: Predator Encounters (FIELD JOURNAL)
Jul 15, 2011: Nearshore Project Vancouver Expedition: Otter Differences (FIELD JOURNAL)
Jun 07, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Closing Thoughts (FIELD JOURNAL)
Jun 06, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 15 (FIELD JOURNAL)
Jun 05, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 14 (FIELD JOURNAL)
Jun 03, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 10 (FIELD JOURNAL)
Jun 02, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 9 (FIELD JOURNAL)
May 31, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Week 1 Photos (FIELD JOURNAL)
May 29, 2011: Otters Reveal Clues to Coastal Health (Washington Post)
May 29, 2011: Gallery: Otters Reveal Secrets of the Sea (Washington Post)
May 28, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 7 (FIELD JOURNAL)
May 27, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 6 Part II (FIELD JOURNAL)
May 26, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 6 (FIELD JOURNAL)
May 24, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 4 (FIELD JOURNAL)
May 23, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 3 (FIELD JOURNAL)
May 23, 2011: Pacific Nearshore Project Uses Sea Otters as Barometer (Anchorage Daily News)
May 22, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 2 (FIELD JOURNAL)
May 20, 2011: Nearshore Project Alaska Expedition, Day 1 (FIELD JOURNAL)
May 16, 2011: Anchors Aweigh for Alaska Sea Otter Expedition Investigating Coastal Health (USGS Newsroom)
May 16, 2011: Biologists to Begin Sea Otter Study in Southeast (Alaska Public Radio Network)
May 16, 2011: USGS Embarks on Sea Otter Study (KTUU News Alaska)
May 16, 2011: Alaska Sea Otter Expedition Sets Sail This Week (USGS WERC)
Mar 18, 2011: CSI: Sea Otter (Monterey Bay Aquarium)
Mar 03, 2011: Mysterious Shark Attacks on Sea Otters (CBS Evening News with Katie Kouric)
Jan 24, 2011: USGS Analyzing Sea Otter Deaths Data (USGS WERC)
Sep 15, 2010: Sea Otter Deaths from Shark Bites on the Rise (CDFG Newsroom)
Sep 11, 2010: Monterey Sea Otters Killed by Toxic Algae (San Francisco Chronicle)
Sep 10, 2010: Sea Otter Deaths Linked to Toxin from Freshwater Bacteria (UC Santa Cruz)
Aug 11, 2010: Sea Otter Shortage? (FOX Report with Shepard Smith)
Aug 03, 2010: California Sea Otter Numbers Drop Again (USGS Newsroom)

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