From kelp forests to sea grass meadows, these charismatic predators are quietly holding parts of the coast together.

Adorably fuzzy sea otters aren’t just cute. The marine mammals serve a crucial role, helping to restore the giant kelp forests they rely on by removing their top predators, the sea urchins. When ...

Scientists have made an interesting discovery connecting sea otters to forest recovery, reinforcing their role as a keystone species. The researchers were then able to identify patterns, explaining ...

When sea otters were reintroduced along the coastlines of islands in Southern California and British Columbia, researchers saw kelp forests return to areas that were destroyed by sea urchins. But how ...

Sophia is your community news reporter covering the North Coast of San Luis Obispo County, including Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria and San Simeon. It’s Sea Otter Awareness Week, which has been ...

When people talk about sea otters, the words “cute,” “cuddly,” and “curious” often come to mind. But now you can add another descriptor to that list -- climate change fighters. Along the West Coast ...

Did you know sea otters can eat a quarter of their body weight in food every day? That’s hundreds of sea urchins, clams, and crabs — all cracked open with a rock balanced on their bellies. It’s one of ...

After missing from the Oregon coast for more than a century, sea otters are getting a step closer to staging a comeback. Local tribes and nonprofits have received a $1.56 million grant to lead the ...

I found it odd that the accounting of the disappearance of kelp beds described by the Oregon Kelp Alliance in the Nov. 30 issue of The Astorian made no mention of sea otters. The disappearance of kelp ...

You’ve likely seen those heartwarming images of darling little sea otters floating on their backs with their tiny hands clasped together as they bob along the waves. It’s super cute of course, but why ...