Marine Life at Elkhorn Slough

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Sea otters in Monterrey Bay are so very special. The species was almost extinct after being hunted for the outstanding coat, but thanks to recent conservation efforts the population is finally in the rise.

We went to visit their home in Elkhorn Slough, and got to see their slough-mates as well. Here are some snapshots and fun facts we learned from our naturalist guide.

Meet our little "Otter Spotter".
When Mara saw an otter in the water, she held her Otter Card way up high to let everyone know, and pointed to the animal so we can see it. We needed to be very quiet because otters are sensitive to sound.

Irina, Otter Spotter Mara and the Otter Card
Sea Lions:
- Very social, like to pile up on each other
- One of them was giving an important speech to the other as we were taking photos
- Unlike seals, they have little ear flaps!
- They have large front flippers so they can climb on rocks and piers
- All the ones here are males; all the females are on a more remote island, and the strongest males migrate there for mating season.
- They hunt for fish only at dusk and dawn.


We saw a bunch of water birds, some easier to photograph than others:
- Kormorants have wettable feathers, unlike most water birds; they use the water-filled feathers' weight to dive deep.
- The smallest species of pelicans in North America. Their throat pouch is actually much bigger than their stomach.


Harbor seals chilling on the rocks.
- They are not very social; they stay together, but they do not like to touch each other.
- Fur coloring ranges from white, adapted to the South California coast, to dark grey from the North.
- No ear flaps, small front flippers; they cannot climb - the ones here are left from overnight tide.
- They hunt for fish only at night.

Otter in the water, eating some random invertebrate.
- Sea otters are too slow to catch fish; they eat clams, squid, shellfish etc.
- Very high metabolism; if they do not eat for one day, they lose 3lbs. They need to eat 30% of their body mass every day.
- A quarter-sized area of their fur has enough hairs to cover a German Shepard - over 1 million hairs. That is why their fur is so desirable.

Otter pup floating in the water, napping.
- Baby otters cannot swim when they are born; their fur keeps them afloat like a little lifejacket
- Mommy otter swims up and down bringing him food and teaching him to crack the shells.
- Unlike most animals, otters' behavior is learned rather than innate: the baby needs to be taught everything by his mother.

Otter group: a Romp of otters.

Romanian-speaking ladies!


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