Sea otters in Alaska were almost hunted to extinction by Russian fur trades. Sea otter numbers have rebounded in Southeast Alaska after a transplant program in the late 1960’s reintroduced them to the area. Some wonder if the present day populations might have reached a maximum in some places. Sea otters usually consume sea urchins, crabs, clams, mussels, abalone, and other marine benthic invertebrates. Watching this otter gobble up a basket star left me wondering just how desperate this otter must be to eat something with so little nutritious value. I would love to hear from sea otter experts to learn more about what might be going on. Enjoy the photo and thanks for visiting – Camera: Nikon D800, Lens: Nikkor 80-400mm, Digital Capture, hand held ©Mark Kelley
Sea Otter with Basket Star, Icy Stait, Alaska #3022
“As a kid in Buffalo, New York, I always wondered what it would be like to encounter a whale,” says Mark Kelley. Learn more about Mark…