Sea otter mothers face unique challenges in parenting. They give birth in the water to blind and helpless infants, who must be carried on their bellies for weeks. These devoted mothers nurse their babies while holding them close, constantly grooming their thick coats and caring for them until they can swim independently. The newborn sea otters’ fur is so dense that they would sink if placed in the water right away. It puts into perspective the challenges of motherhood when comparing it to how much attention our own babies desire.
In a heartwarming video, we witness the tender care a mama sea otter provides for her pup. She affectionately nuzzles and guides her little one, sometimes wrapping them up in a floating bed of kelp. Sea otter moms often use this buoyant kelp as a natural stroller or crib to give themselves a break. These dedicated mothers spend countless hours grooming their offspring’s thick fur.
When sea otters are orphaned, it requires round-the-clock care from multiple staff members to comb, dry, feed, and care for the pup. It takes several human caregivers to fill the void left by a single sea otter mother, and success rates can vary widely. In the wild, baby sea otters cannot swim on their own until they are a month old and spend six to eight months alongside their mother, learning essential survival skills.
Female sea otters give birth at sea and raise their pups independently for 6-8 months until they are weaned. These remarkable mothers protect, nourish, and impart crucial survival knowledge to their young.
Sea otters were once hunted to near extinction for their valuable fur coats, but now federal protections are aiding in their recovery. Northern sea otter populations can be found along the Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington coastlines, as well as in Russia and the Bering Strait. Southern sea otters reside in California and the Baja Peninsula. While otters have yet to return to the Oregon coast, they are considered a conservation success story.
Current threats to sea otters include climate change and oil spills, which jeopardize their food sources and overall health. To stay updated on more PetHelpful content, follow us on YouTube for entertaining videos or share your adorable pet with us by submitting a video. Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
