| 1. |
Two
separate populations of sea otters live in North America: Alaska
sea otters and California sea otters.
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| 2. |
The
sea otter's brown to black fur is the finest and densest of any animal
fur. On a large animal, there an estimated 650,000 hairs per square
inch. A sea otter relies on its fur to keep it warm--it doesn't have
blubber as other marine mammals do. Natural oils in a sea otter's
fur repel water and trap tiny air bubbles, providing a layer of warm
air between the otter's skin and the harsh elements of its environment. |
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| 3. |
Sea
otters spend up to 48% of the daylight hours grooming their fur. They
groom by rubbing fur with their forepaws. Their strong claws comb
and rake the fur. Then they roll and whirl in the water to smooth
their fur. |
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| 4. |
Sea
otters sleep, rest, and usually swim on their backs. California sea
otters spend almost all of their time in the water. Alaska sea otters
often sleep, groom, and nurse on land. |
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| 5. |
Because
they rely on their dense fur for insulation from the chilly ocean
water, sea otters are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental effects
of an oil spill. If a sea otter swims into an oil spill, the fur becomes
soiled and loses its insulating qualities, allowing water to penetrate
to the skin and causing hypothermia and ultimately, death. |
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