Sea Otter for Kids Ages 6-8

Sea Otter

A friendly sea otter shares its life story, from floating in kelp forests and using tools to eat, to holding hands with friends in a 'raft.' The otter explains how its species was saved from being hunted by a special agreement in 1911 and describes its important job as a 'guardian of the kelp forest,' keeping the ocean ecosystem healthy for everyone.

First described by Europeans c. 1741

Protected by International Treaty 1911

Listed as Threatened 1977

A Sea Otter's Tale

Hello! My name is Otter, and I am a sea otter. I have the thickest, softest fur of any animal in the whole world. It keeps me warm and cozy in my home, the chilly North Pacific Ocean. My favorite thing to do is float on my back in the big, waving kelp forests. The kelp is like a giant brown algae that grows up from the bottom of the ocean. It makes a perfect, comfy bed for me to rest on. I can just lie back, look up at the sky, and feel the gentle waves rock me back and forth. It’s the best place to be!

When I get hungry, it's time for an adventure. I take a big breath and dive deep down into the water to look for food. My favorite snacks are crunchy sea urchins and tasty clams that hide on the ocean floor. Finding them is fun, but opening them is my special trick. I grab a yummy clam and a nice, smooth rock. Then, I swim back to the surface and float on my back. I put the rock on my tummy, which becomes my own little dinner table. Then, I tap the shell on the rock—crack!—and it opens right up. It’s a very clever way to get to the delicious meal inside.

I love spending time with my family and friends. We are very social and like to stick together. When it’s time to rest or take a nap, we gather in big groups called ‘rafts.’ We all float together on our backs, bobbing in the water like little boats. To make sure we don’t drift apart while we sleep, we often hold paws with each other. It’s very comforting to feel a friend's paw in mine, knowing we are all safe and won’t float away. It’s like a big, floating slumber party in the ocean.

My super-soft fur is wonderful, but it once caused a lot of trouble for my family. For many years, people hunted us because they wanted our thick fur. It was a very sad time, and we almost disappeared completely. But then, something wonderful happened. In the year 1911, people made a special agreement to protect us. This promise meant that people would stop hunting us and help keep us safe. Because of that important agreement, my family started to grow strong and healthy again.

I have a very important job in the ocean. I am a guardian of the kelp forest. Remember those crunchy sea urchins I love to eat? Well, sea urchins eat kelp, and if there are too many of them, they can eat up the entire forest. By eating lots of them, I help stop them from munching on all the kelp. This keeps the beautiful underwater forests healthy and strong. A healthy kelp forest provides a safe home and lots of food for many other fish and sea creatures. I'm proud to be a helper of the sea.