*Captivating. . . . a full portrait of this adorable and ecologically
important animal. --Publishers Weekly
*
A science journalist travels the Pacific Coast in search of sea otters
in this entertaining and inspiring book on the importance and history of
this charismatic endangered species
Sea otters--the adorable, furry marine mammals often seen floating on
their backs holding hands--reveal the health of the coastal ecosystem
along the Pacific Ocean. Once hunted for their prized fur in the 18th
and 19th centuries, these animals nearly went extinct. Only now, nearly
a century after hunting ceased, are populations showing stable growth in
some places. Sea otters are a keystone species in coastal areas, feeding
on sea urchins, clams, crab, and other crustaceans. When they are
present, kelp beds are thick and healthy, providing homes for an array
of sea life. When otters disappear, sea urchins take over, and the kelp
disappears along with all the creatures that live in the beds. Now,
thanks to their protected status, sea otters are making a comeback in
California, Washington, and Alaska.
In this hopeful book, science writer Todd McLeish embarks on an epic
journey along the Pacific Coast--traveling from California to Alaska--to
track the status, health, habits, personality, and viability of sea
otters, and reveals how conservationists brought them back from the
brink of extinction.
