Zeeotter

Hello! My name is Otter, and I’m a sea otter. I want to tell you about my life in the big, blue ocean. My favorite thing about myself is my fur. It’s the thickest, warmest coat of any animal in the world! This super-fur keeps me warm in my home, the chilly North Pacific Ocean. I spend most of my day floating on my back in big, wavy kelp forests. The kelp sways back and forth, and it feels just like I’m resting on a cozy, watery bed. It’s the best place to take a nap or just watch the clouds drift by in the sky above the water.

When I get hungry, it’s time for an adventure! I take a big breath and dive deep down to the ocean floor to look for my food. My favorite snacks are crunchy sea urchins and tasty clams. It can be tricky to find them hiding among the rocks and sand. Once I find a delicious clam, I have a very clever trick to open it. I also grab a special rock from the bottom of the sea. Then, I swim back to the surface and float on my back. My tummy becomes my own little dinner table! I place the rock on my tummy and tap, tap, tap the shell against it until it cracks open. Then I can enjoy my yummy meal.

I love spending time with my family and friends. We are very social and like to stick together. When it’s time to rest, we gather in big, cozy groups called 'rafts.' We float side-by-side in the calm water of the kelp forest. To make sure we don’t drift away from each other while we are sleeping, we often hold paws. It feels very safe and comforting to know my friends are right there next to me, even when my eyes are closed. We look like a big, floating blanket of furry friends.

My beautiful, soft fur wasn't always just good for keeping me warm. A long time ago, it caused a lot of trouble for my family because many people wanted it. For many years, we were hunted, and soon there were very few of us left. We almost disappeared forever. But then, a wonderful thing happened. In the year 1911, people created a special agreement to protect us. This agreement meant that we were safe, and it helped my family grow strong and healthy again.

Being a sea otter comes with a very important job. I am a guardian of the kelp forest! By eating lots of crunchy sea urchins, I help the whole ocean. You see, if there are too many sea urchins, they will eat up all the beautiful kelp until it’s gone. By keeping the number of sea urchins just right, I make sure the underwater forests stay healthy and strong. This provides a safe home for many other fish and sea creatures who need the kelp to live. I'm a helper of the sea!