The Oregon Coast Aquarium celebrates Sea Otter Awareness Week September 27- October 3. If you can plan a trip to Newport during this week you are in for a real treat. The Aquarium staff will have daily showings during Otter feeding times, talks and activities for kids of all ages. This is a wonderful opportunity to observe up close these amazing sea mammals.
Once hunted to near extinction for their pelts, Sea Otters are making a comeback as a protected species. Recognized as a keystone species, otters play a critical role in maintaining healthy kelp beds that in turn supports thousands of organisms in the marine ecosystem. The last recorded Sea Otter to be trapped off Newport was in 1906.
This writer has had the privilege of watching whole herds of these very social creatures in Alaskan waters. If you are not able to make the Alaskan trip, how about dropping by the Oregon Coast Aquarium?
