A mother Southern sea otter and her pup attract attention frolicking in the Pacific Ocean near Monterey.
California's sea otters were almost wiped out due to the Great Hunt that started in 1742. However, since the 1930's they've been ranging north from the Monterey Peninsula and are now regularly seen in San Mateo County waters. Recent unconfirmed sightings place these watery weasels in San Francisco near the Golden Gate Bridge. It would seem to be a tough place for them to live these days, but they used to thrive in San Francisco Bay. Have you seen any sea otters north of Pacifica? If so, let us know!
More shots after the jump.
First you get a nice rock on your tummy, then you bang away.
Now, enjoy some nice seafood.
A pup begs for more from its mother. Gestation period for sea otters is over 7 months - it's a lot of work to raise a pup.
A close up of an adult female. Sea otters are the smallest marine mammals.
Breakfast in the morning sun.
Originally from Japan, Southern sea otters used to range continuously across the North Pacific off the coasts of northen Japan and Alaska, but also all the way down the West Coast to Mexico. Given the history, they are lucky not to be extinct. Ganbatte, kawauso-san.
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OMFG, these are so cute. I'm sending this to Cute Overload!
Yeah, sea otters are almost illegally cute. If they start settling around here, I won't be able to get anything done besides watching those little buggers all day.
Speaking of which ... what's the best way to get to Monterey without a car?
In that first photo, it looks like the otters are about to be chomped on by a hungry sea lion?
To answer dln's question, there is one Amtrak train that goes through Monterrey each day (the Coast Starlate) or a more flexible option is to take Caltrain to San Jose station and then there is a Monterrey -Salinas Transit express bus that picks up there. There may also be Amtrak Thruway buses from San Jose station. Anyways, I hope that info helps!
Ooooooh, such cute otters!
Hey, that 55 bus is just the ticket. Thanks for the tip, now I can go get me some sea otter goodness! Oh joy!
Don't know what the big animal is in the first photo - some kind of seal, either earless (a true seal) or eared (a sea lion). I don't think that kind of animal eats otters. Anyway, they happily co-existed when I was there on 17-Mile Drive.
Greyhound might be another viable option for getting to Monterey.
I saw a sea otter in the Belvedere Lagoon, of all places, about nine months ago. Couldn't believe it. Couldn't even figure out how it got in there, since it's a "gated" lagoon, with a regulated level and screened inlet from the Bay. I wonder if sea otters ever walk. Can they dodge traffic? Will they begin scurrying from the Bay to the Berkeley Aquatic Park across I-80?