An unlikely savior for California’s coastal ecosystems: Orphaned sea otters
Sea otters are a keystone species in their native coastal environments. They prey on small herbivorous sea creatures like sea urchins, which can lead to more kelp and healthier seagrass in an area. But after being hunted for their fur to near extinction in the 19th and 20th centuries, otter populations along the California coast are still struggling.
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- San Luis Obispo Tribune: Video: Sea otter numbers decline in 2019 count