Sea otters are famous for their luxuriously fuzzy fur, but there is a lot more to these marine mammals than what first meets the eye.
Sea Otter Awareness Week aims to showcase just that, and inspire people around the world to help these threatened animals. The Aquarium will honor this international celebration of sea otters on Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The event includes a free behind the scenes sneak peek for Aquarium visitors from 1:15 to 2:00 p.m. Displays and presentations will include information about how Aquarium staff train, feed and care for sea otters. From restaurant-quality seafood preparation to the enormous collection of toys and other enrichment items that keep these energetic marine mammals too busy to get into their own mischief.
Sea otter facts will be spread throughout the Aquarium’s exhibits to greet visitors as they explore Oregon’s coastal and marine environments.
Those who cannot make it to the coast to celebrate with the Aquarium’s resident sea otters, Judge, Schuster, Nuka and Oswald can watch their antics live on the Aquari-cam at aquarium.org/aquari-cam.
The Aquarium’s four rescued sea otters comprise the largest group of permanent Oregon residents. Sea otters were once abundant along the Oregon Coast but were hunted to extinction, and are only occasionally sighted locally to this day. The southern population is currently listed as threatened with endangerment, and the northern population also faces challenges.
Despite sea otters’ perilous position, people of all ages can help by reducing their use of single-use plastics, and bagging and disposing of, rather than flushing, cat waste. These practices are even meaningful for inland residents, as an estimated 80 percent of marine debris originates from land-based sources.
Sea Otter Awareness Day activities are free with Aquarium admission. For more information, visit aquarium.org or call 541-867-FISH.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is dedicated to the highest quality aquatic and marine science programs for recreation and education so that the public better understands, cherishes, and conserves the world’s natural marine and coastal resources. An accredited Association of Zoos & Aquariums institution, this 501(c)3 non-profit organization is ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. Visit us at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. www.aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium, or Twitter.com/OrCoastAquarium for the latest updates.
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