This photo of sea otters has made its way around the internet multiple times, and usually with the caption that sea otters hold hands to keep from floating away from each other. Yes, it’s true — often a mother and pup will hold on to each other while sleeping to keep from drifting away from one another. But that isn’t the only strategy sea otters have. They also utilise kelp! Sea otters wrap themselves in long strands of kelp which grow from the sea floor all the way up to the surface of the water. They use the kelp as an anchor so they can sleep without worry of floating out to open ocean. This adorable photo shows mama and baby using both strategies!

Otters help keep kelp forests growing

Sea otters play a key role in the coastal ocean ecosystem. Sea otters eat a diversity of fish and crustaceans, but importantly, they eat the urchins that feed on kelp. This means sea otters are an important species in keeping kelp forests healthy. Without the sea otters, urchin population boom and kelp disappears — and along with the kelp goes a myriad of other species that depend on the kelp forests.

Otters eat a lot of food

Otters in general need to eat a whole lot to satisfy speedy metabolisms. They eat between 15-25 per cent of their body weight in food every day. To get enough to eat, they may spend as much as five hours a day foraging for food.

Besides fish, otters are also known to eat whatever is easiest to find, like crustaceans, molluscs, insects, birds, oysters, shellfish, crabs, crayfish, frogs, rodents, turtles and aquatic invertebrates.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 17th, 2016