Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Sea otters rest wrapped in kelp beds along the California coast (c) Bruce J. Lichenberger

The tax deadline is looming, but there’s still time for Californians to help make a difference for threatened sea otters by donating as little as $1 to the California Sea Otter Fund on their state tax forms.

Though they once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, today there are fewer than 2,800 sea otters along the California coast. And with continuous threats of being poisoned by oil spills or other pollution, these charismatic critters are struggling to make a comeback.

In these tough economic times, donations that go to provide vital research dedicated to helping sea otters survive are more important than ever. That’s why Defenders worked with California lawmakers to establish the California Sea Otter Fund, giving California taxpayers the opportunity to contribute to the recovery of these animals just by entering $1 or more on line 410 of their California state tax form.

Each year, the Franchise Tax Board sets a target amount that the program has to raise in order to be on the form again the following year. For the last six years Californians have dug deep and donated enough for the tax check-off to return. This year, the tax check off must raise $273,025 — so if you’re in California, as you finish filling out your tax forms this year don’t forget about our furry aquatic friends.

2012 was a better year than usual for California’s sea otters, with the spring census showing a slight increase in the total population for the first time in four years. In December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also officially abandoned their failed no-otter zone, allowing sea otters to expand their natural range to California’s southern waters without the threat of being moved back north across an invisible line in the Pacific Ocean. Between pollution and disease, sea otters still face many serious challenges, but with your help we can work to keep them on this path to recovery.

Click here to find out more on sea otter conservation and Defenders’ work with the California Tax Check-off.

Not in California? You can still help save sea otters by adopting one of these marvelous marine mammals. Not only will you be sharing your appreciation for this imperiled species, but you’ll also be helping to support Defenders’ work on their behalf. Click here to visit our Wildlife Adoption Center.

With the tax deadline looming there is still time for Californians to help make a positive difference for sea otters by donating as little as $1 to the California Sea Otter Tax Fund located on their state tax forms. With fewer than 2800 sea otters left along the California coast these charismatic critters are struggling to make a comeback and your donations will help fund vital research dedicated to helping sea otters survive.  With a target amount set by the Franchise Tax Board each year, the tax check off must raise $267,934 this year to return to the tax forms next year. So as you finish filling out your tax forms this year don’t forget about our furry aquatic friends. Visit www.saveseaotters.org to find out more on sea otter conservation and Defenders’ work with the California Tax Check-off.

A recent release from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that 335 sea otters were found dead last year along California’s coasts. This news comes as a blow to sea otter recovery which has seen a decline in the 3-year population average over the last two years.

A trend that is of concern to scientists who monitor sea otter populations is that 2011 saw a large jump in the percentage of sea otters deaths that were caused by shark bites.  Most of the bites, despite ultimately proving fatal, were considered exploratory in nature as the sharks were looking for their preferred food of sea lion or seal but scientists are still unsure as to why there was such a large increase in these attacks.  Of more concern to scientists was the rise in the number of female sea otters that were killed since female deaths will have a greater impact on the population growth.

While sea otter deaths caused by shark bites occur every year it has been shown to be increasing over the decades.  In the 1980′s and ’90′s sharks were responsible for around 8% of sea otter mortalities. By the late 1990′s that number had risen to 15% but in 2010 and 2011 that number has jumped to 30%.

Californian’s can continue to help sea otter recovery efforts during the tax season by donating to the California Sea Otter Tax Fund located on the state tax forms.

You can read the full USGS press release here.

Sea otters don’t want roses or chocolates for Valentine’s Day.

Check out this video with our friend Philippe Cousteau to learn more about what you can do to help the threatened California sea otter.

If you live in California, the best way to show you care is to do your taxes early and donate to the California Sea Otter Fund, a vital lifeline supporting research and recovery programs for these furry marine mammals.

Californians must raise more than a quarter-million dollars this tax season for vital fund to reappear on tax forms again next year. Learn how you can contribute today at saveseaotters.org.

Defenders landed a big win for sea otter conservation.

It’s been a busy year for Defenders’ California office, but the hard work has resulted in a huge payoff for the Golden State’s wild ones. Here’s a recap of some key state successes:

Sea otter fund saved

Sea otters are threatened with extinction, but thanks to Defenders, an important lifeline keeping these charismatic marine mammals afloat remains intact.

We helped lead the charge to reauthorize the California Sea Otter Fund, which has collected more than $1 million over the past five years in donations from California taxpayers for scientific research and sea otter conservation. The critical fund was set to expire at the year’s end unless the California Legislature acted fast.

Defenders worked with Assemblyman Bill Monning and the Monterey Bay Aquarium to sponsor legislation (AB 971) reauthorizing the tax check-off fund for up to another five years.

We promoted the program through newspaper, TV and radio interviews, and public service advertisements featuring Philippe Cousteau, which were broadcasted on the airwaves and World Wide Web. The result: Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill into law on Sept. 1.

That ought to keep otter fans everywhere smiling.

Shark-finning: A fading fad?

Blue shark, courtesy of Mark Conlin, NOAA.

The brutal practice that sees millions of sharks killed solely for their fins each year may soon become a thing of the past–at least in California, the largest market for fins outside of Asia.

Hopefully, the fin ban (AB 376) will help to curb the growing appetite for shark fin soup, a traditional Chinese delicacy once enjoyed primarily by a small, privileged class that’s now become an international status symbol served up at special occasions such as weddings and business dinners.

What’s worse is that overfishing has caused some shark populations to plummet by as much as 99 percent, and many shark populations worldwide are in distress.

But beginning in the new year, the ban will come into effect in the Golden State, phasing out the selling and trading of fins over the next year and a half–making 2013 the year of the shark.

Harvesting the sun’s energy

Damaged croplands could have a second life as solar farms.

There’s no more debate: Climate change is real and it’s happening in a big way. And experts agree that we must quickly transition to clean energy sources, such as the sun and wind, to avoid the worst impacts of a warming world on people and wildlife alike.

But renewable energy projects can also carry a high price tag for the environment if they’re not designed to avoid destroying habitat or harming imperiled wildlife, like desert tortoise or golden eagles.

That prompted Defenders and a coalition of conservation and agriculture groups to work together to pass a new law (SB 618) aiming to make it easier and less expensive for renewable-energy developers to build commercial-scale solar power plants on degraded farms.

The idea is to drive development away from sensitive habitat on public lands and prime agricultural lands–all the while, giving damaged croplands a second life as solar farms.

A weekly homage to endangered species, large and small

SOUTHERN SEA OTTERS

The densest fur in the animal kingdom belongs to one of the nation’s most beloved creatures—the sea otter. The southern sea otter, also called the California sea otter, is as much a part of the Golden State’s pride as killer waves and surf-n-turf diners.

Sea otters grow on average up to 4 feet long. The smaller females weigh about 45 pounds, while males can reach more than 60 pounds. Because they don’t have blubber like seals or whales to insulate them against the Pacific Ocean’s cold waters, sea otters rely on thick fur for protection against the elements.

Other than primates, sea otters are one of the few animals to use tools. They use rocks and other items from their environment like hammers to break into molluscs and other prey. They are naturally gifted hunters, perfectly adapted to their environment. Typically sea otters hunt in shallow waters of less than 60 feet, but they can dive more than 300 feet to forage the ocean floor. Because of their high metabolism, sea otters eat as much as 25 percent of their body weight each day.

Related: Live in California? Learn about the sea otter tax check off.

Despite their cunning, sea otters have remained on the list of endangered and threatened species since 1977. Originally, oil spills were considered the main threat to their survival. The sticky stuff mats their fur, diminishing its insulating abilities. And oily otters will eventually die from hypothermia or organ failure, and sometimes from swallowing oil when they try to groom themselves clean.

New findings, however, suggest there’s more foul play afoot. Since 1998, some 40-50  percent of sea otter deaths in California have been attributed to disease. While scientists say there’s no smoking gun exactly, the otter’s fondness for dining on filter feeders, like mussels and clams, could be partially to blame. These invertebrates tend to accumulate toxins from the water,  and when otters eat them, the poisons get passed along.

All-purpose Otters

Trouble for the sea otters could mean big problems for near-shore ecosystems. Sea otters keep sea urchins and other invertebrates populations in check, so they don’t devastate underwater kelp forests (large seaweeds). Kelp forests act as critical buffers against storms and provide habitat for an array of marine life — from fish to seahorses.  By locking up heat-trapping pollution like carbon dioxide, kelp forests also help in the fight against climate change.

Sea otters support life on-shore as well. As sea otter populations expand, economists predict otter-related tourism could provide up to 320  new jobs and an additional revenue of $1.5 million to $8.2 million over the next decade.

For cities like Monterey, California, the sea otter already provides huge economic boost. Evidence of the animal’s popularity is apparent throughout the Monterey Bay area, where otters adorns everything, from T-shirts and banners to mugs and posters.