The Otter Project
@theotterproject.bsky.social
Protecting California's iconic sea otter. A program of California Coastkeeper Alliance. www.theotterproject.org
Although there are many threats to sea otters health and well-being, they are extremely resilient creatures who have faced and continue to face a lot. Their ability to adapt, survive, and rebound despite these challenges is a testament to their remarkable strength as a species.
November 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Although there are many threats to sea otters health and well-being, they are extremely resilient creatures who have faced and continue to face a lot. Their ability to adapt, survive, and rebound despite these challenges is a testament to their remarkable strength as a species.
-Sea otters are sentinel species
-Constant grooming can pose a risk to otters
-Some parasites, toxins & pollutants can change otters behavior.
How many of these did you already know? 🦦🦐🦠
-Constant grooming can pose a risk to otters
-Some parasites, toxins & pollutants can change otters behavior.
How many of these did you already know? 🦦🦐🦠
November 25, 2025 at 12:59 AM
-Sea otters are sentinel species
-Constant grooming can pose a risk to otters
-Some parasites, toxins & pollutants can change otters behavior.
How many of these did you already know? 🦦🦐🦠
-Constant grooming can pose a risk to otters
-Some parasites, toxins & pollutants can change otters behavior.
How many of these did you already know? 🦦🦐🦠
5 Things You May Not Know About Sea Otters, Health Edition
-Sea otters can get land-based parasites
-Shellfish can directly transfer parasites to otters
-Sea otters can get land-based parasites
-Shellfish can directly transfer parasites to otters
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
5 Things You May Not Know About Sea Otters, Health Edition
-Sea otters can get land-based parasites
-Shellfish can directly transfer parasites to otters
-Sea otters can get land-based parasites
-Shellfish can directly transfer parasites to otters
This can happen due to a number of reasons such as pollution, but ultimately the advantages of having a dense coat far outweigh the challenges. It’s the ultimate winter coat!
October 23, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This can happen due to a number of reasons such as pollution, but ultimately the advantages of having a dense coat far outweigh the challenges. It’s the ultimate winter coat!
Sea otters have the densest fur of any species in the animal kingdom. They have to spend many hours each day grooming it to keep it clean. If it isn’t well maintained or gets dirty, however, it loses its ability to trap air and cause hypothermia.
October 23, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Sea otters have the densest fur of any species in the animal kingdom. They have to spend many hours each day grooming it to keep it clean. If it isn’t well maintained or gets dirty, however, it loses its ability to trap air and cause hypothermia.
Researchers have identified many different types of sea otter vocalizations, with the mother–pup calls standing out as some of the most unique and recognizable. These special calls not only help them locate each other and serve as warnings but also strengthen the emotional bond between mother-pup.
October 14, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Researchers have identified many different types of sea otter vocalizations, with the mother–pup calls standing out as some of the most unique and recognizable. These special calls not only help them locate each other and serve as warnings but also strengthen the emotional bond between mother-pup.
Sea Otter Awareness Week Challenge Day 7:
Post a photo, reel, or story of yourself anchored in something (hugging a blanket, holding hands, wrapped in a scarf, on a floaty, etc.).
Share what gives you hope for the ocean’s future based on your answer to day one’s challenge question.
Post a photo, reel, or story of yourself anchored in something (hugging a blanket, holding hands, wrapped in a scarf, on a floaty, etc.).
Share what gives you hope for the ocean’s future based on your answer to day one’s challenge question.
September 27, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Sea Otter Awareness Week Challenge Day 7:
Post a photo, reel, or story of yourself anchored in something (hugging a blanket, holding hands, wrapped in a scarf, on a floaty, etc.).
Share what gives you hope for the ocean’s future based on your answer to day one’s challenge question.
Post a photo, reel, or story of yourself anchored in something (hugging a blanket, holding hands, wrapped in a scarf, on a floaty, etc.).
Share what gives you hope for the ocean’s future based on your answer to day one’s challenge question.
Sea Otter Awareness Week Challenge Day 6: Sea otters are tool masters - they use tools like rocks to crack open their food.
Now it’s your turn, “invent” your own quirky way to open food using a random object!
🦦🪨🦀
Now it’s your turn, “invent” your own quirky way to open food using a random object!
🦦🪨🦀
September 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Sea Otter Awareness Week Challenge Day 6: Sea otters are tool masters - they use tools like rocks to crack open their food.
Now it’s your turn, “invent” your own quirky way to open food using a random object!
🦦🪨🦀
Now it’s your turn, “invent” your own quirky way to open food using a random object!
🦦🪨🦀
Sea Otter Awareness Week Challenge Day 5 (little late!): Test your otter knowledge by taking this timeline challenge!
September 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Sea Otter Awareness Week Challenge Day 5 (little late!): Test your otter knowledge by taking this timeline challenge!
Sea Otter Awareness Week Challenge Day 4: Sea otters depend on a healthy ocean — and every kind act helps to protect it. This Sea Otter Awareness Week, let’s show them some love by doing some otterly kind acts for the place they call home. ♻️
September 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Sea Otter Awareness Week Challenge Day 4: Sea otters depend on a healthy ocean — and every kind act helps to protect it. This Sea Otter Awareness Week, let’s show them some love by doing some otterly kind acts for the place they call home. ♻️
Day 3 Challenge: Get creative! Today, we challenge you to draw, paint, or craft anything inspired by sea otters. Whether it’s realistic or abstract, we want to see your unique style shine! Post it with a brief educational caption and don’t forget to tag us so we can see your amazing work!
🦦🎨
🦦🎨
September 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Day 3 Challenge: Get creative! Today, we challenge you to draw, paint, or craft anything inspired by sea otters. Whether it’s realistic or abstract, we want to see your unique style shine! Post it with a brief educational caption and don’t forget to tag us so we can see your amazing work!
🦦🎨
🦦🎨
Day 2 Challenge: In the comments below, guess the story being told with emojis. 👇🏼Then leave your own otter story for us to guess! 🦦
September 23, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Day 2 Challenge: In the comments below, guess the story being told with emojis. 👇🏼Then leave your own otter story for us to guess! 🦦
Happy kickoff to Sea Otter Awareness Week! This year’s theme is Anchored in Hope.
An anchor symbolizes stability, safety, and resilience, while hope is the steady light of optimism that carries us forward. Together, they keep us grounded, guiding us through uncertainty.
An anchor symbolizes stability, safety, and resilience, while hope is the steady light of optimism that carries us forward. Together, they keep us grounded, guiding us through uncertainty.
September 21, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Happy kickoff to Sea Otter Awareness Week! This year’s theme is Anchored in Hope.
An anchor symbolizes stability, safety, and resilience, while hope is the steady light of optimism that carries us forward. Together, they keep us grounded, guiding us through uncertainty.
An anchor symbolizes stability, safety, and resilience, while hope is the steady light of optimism that carries us forward. Together, they keep us grounded, guiding us through uncertainty.
Sea Otter Awareness Week runs from Sept. 21st to 27th — but the celebrations kick off today and continue through September 28th!
The schedule below is provided by Defenders of Wildlife. For event details, tickets and links, visit their website: defenders.org/sea-otter-aw....
The schedule below is provided by Defenders of Wildlife. For event details, tickets and links, visit their website: defenders.org/sea-otter-aw....
September 17, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Sea Otter Awareness Week runs from Sept. 21st to 27th — but the celebrations kick off today and continue through September 28th!
The schedule below is provided by Defenders of Wildlife. For event details, tickets and links, visit their website: defenders.org/sea-otter-aw....
The schedule below is provided by Defenders of Wildlife. For event details, tickets and links, visit their website: defenders.org/sea-otter-aw....
Their teeth act as dietary records that reveal a lot about their preferences such as how individuals feed, the kind of prey they hunt and how that can all change over a lifetime.
If you were a sea otter, what would your preferences be? 🦦
#theotterproject
If you were a sea otter, what would your preferences be? 🦦
#theotterproject
September 16, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Their teeth act as dietary records that reveal a lot about their preferences such as how individuals feed, the kind of prey they hunt and how that can all change over a lifetime.
If you were a sea otter, what would your preferences be? 🦦
#theotterproject
If you were a sea otter, what would your preferences be? 🦦
#theotterproject
Last week we talked about how sea otters have diet preferences that are shaped by gender, location, resource availability and learned behaviors - and these diet preferences can often be determined by examining their teeth for wear, microscopic markings, chemical signatures and long-term growth.
September 16, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Last week we talked about how sea otters have diet preferences that are shaped by gender, location, resource availability and learned behaviors - and these diet preferences can often be determined by examining their teeth for wear, microscopic markings, chemical signatures and long-term growth.
These preferences can have positive and negative impacts on individuals, affect their tool use and be determined by their dental records.
Swipe left to learn more and stay tuned later this week as we go in depth on how dental records are used to determine an otter’s diet preference!
Swipe left to learn more and stay tuned later this week as we go in depth on how dental records are used to determine an otter’s diet preference!
September 9, 2025 at 6:21 PM
These preferences can have positive and negative impacts on individuals, affect their tool use and be determined by their dental records.
Swipe left to learn more and stay tuned later this week as we go in depth on how dental records are used to determine an otter’s diet preference!
Swipe left to learn more and stay tuned later this week as we go in depth on how dental records are used to determine an otter’s diet preference!
Did you know that sea otters often have diet preferences that are shaped by gender, location, resource availability and learned behaviors?
September 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Did you know that sea otters often have diet preferences that are shaped by gender, location, resource availability and learned behaviors?
Did you know that sea otters are one of few animals that show a handedness (or paw) preference?
A 2020 study in the journal Animal Behavior shows that 70% of sea otters prefer using their right paw when it comes to foraging and using tools. Pretty cool huh?
A 2020 study in the journal Animal Behavior shows that 70% of sea otters prefer using their right paw when it comes to foraging and using tools. Pretty cool huh?
September 2, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Did you know that sea otters are one of few animals that show a handedness (or paw) preference?
A 2020 study in the journal Animal Behavior shows that 70% of sea otters prefer using their right paw when it comes to foraging and using tools. Pretty cool huh?
A 2020 study in the journal Animal Behavior shows that 70% of sea otters prefer using their right paw when it comes to foraging and using tools. Pretty cool huh?
Happy Thursday! Here are some otterly amazing facts all about diving 🦦
Like this post if you learned something new today!
Like this post if you learned something new today!
August 28, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Happy Thursday! Here are some otterly amazing facts all about diving 🦦
Like this post if you learned something new today!
Like this post if you learned something new today!
This can also provide valuable insight into how their ecosystems have changed over time. Swipe left to learn more about bioaccumulation and how it’s affecting our furry friends and the place they call home.
August 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This can also provide valuable insight into how their ecosystems have changed over time. Swipe left to learn more about bioaccumulation and how it’s affecting our furry friends and the place they call home.
Bioaccumulation is the process by which harmful substances build up in an organism’s body over time, often through the prey that it consumes. As top predators, sea otters are good bioindicators of the health of their ecosystem based on the type and amount of toxins that their body has accumulated.
August 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Bioaccumulation is the process by which harmful substances build up in an organism’s body over time, often through the prey that it consumes. As top predators, sea otters are good bioindicators of the health of their ecosystem based on the type and amount of toxins that their body has accumulated.
Happy Monday! Did you know that there is a third subspecies of sea otters called the Russian sea otter?
We wanted to take some time to help you get to know them a bit as well - so swipe left to see if you can spot the very subtle differences between them and the northern and southern subspecies. 🦦
We wanted to take some time to help you get to know them a bit as well - so swipe left to see if you can spot the very subtle differences between them and the northern and southern subspecies. 🦦
August 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Happy Monday! Did you know that there is a third subspecies of sea otters called the Russian sea otter?
We wanted to take some time to help you get to know them a bit as well - so swipe left to see if you can spot the very subtle differences between them and the northern and southern subspecies. 🦦
We wanted to take some time to help you get to know them a bit as well - so swipe left to see if you can spot the very subtle differences between them and the northern and southern subspecies. 🦦
Swipe through the photos to learn more about why it’s so important to many of our ocean species and ecosystems and how it is being threatened. 🦦🦭🐋
#theotterproject
#theotterproject
August 6, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Swipe through the photos to learn more about why it’s so important to many of our ocean species and ecosystems and how it is being threatened. 🦦🦭🐋
#theotterproject
#theotterproject