Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

This race (E. l. nereis) inhabits the Pacific Coast from central to southern California. Other races are found in Asia and Alaska. Famous for their dense fur, these endangered otters were hunted to near extinction in the 19th Century. California's Sea Otters are the descendants of a single colony of about 50 southern Sea Otters discovered near Big Sur in 1938. Although this southern population has largely recovered, it has not expanded to its former range. One factor is the loss of giant kelp beds caused in part by seastar wasting disease along the West Coast. These kelp beds are believed to help protect Sea Otters from White Shark attacks which have increased dramatically in recent years.