Sea Otters

The yellowing government survey map of San Nicolas Island dated from 1879, but it was quite clear: There was a big black dot on the southwest coast and, next to it, the words "Indian Cave. " For more than 20 years, Navy archaeologist Steve Schwartz searched for that cave. It was believed to be home to the island's most famous inhabitant, a Native American woman who survived on the island for 18 years, abandoned and alone, and became the inspiration for "Island of the Blue Dolphins," one of the 20th century's most popular novels for young readers.

Meet Eddie the sea otter. If you're truly a sports fan, he's about to become your favorite creature, because Eddie can dunk a basketball on a hoop in his pool at the Oregon Zoo. That's right. Check out the video above. Eddie, who was a rescue from the coast of California, rises out of the water clutching a miniature basketball and dunks it through the hoop. As Dick Vitale might say, "Awesome, baby!" And if you don't think it's awesome, take the advice of Neil Everett of ESPN and "take some awesome lessons.

Re "GOP-backed bill would retain 'no-otter zone,'" April 27 I find it offensive that Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) would sponsor a bill limiting sea otters' reclaiming their historical range off Southern California. The article states, "Fishermen say their livelihood would be hurt by the unfettered expansion of sea otters into their fishing grounds. " Otters have been inhabiting "their" grounds much longer than humans have. Maybe we need a "no-fisherman zone" to protect the sea otters.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to allow sea otters to roam freely down the Southern California coastline, abandoning its program to relocate the voracious shellfish eaters from waters reserved for fishermen. Federal officials determined that their sea otter trans-location program had failed after 25 years and thus they were terminating it, according to a decision published in the Federal Register on Wednesday. "As a result, it allows sea otters to expand their range naturally into Southern California," the notice said.

Re your Oct. 21 article about California sea otters: I am saddened to think that the commercial fishing industry and state Fish and Game Commission are more concerned about the "precious" abalone and sea urchin fisheries in the Monterey area than they are about sea otters. The sea should belong to wildlife first and the fishing industry second. Isn't it enough that the tuna industry threatened the dolphin's safety? Now human greed and selfishness have to threaten sea otters as well?

When we think of predators, we don't usually think of sea otters, those cute, furry creatures seen in televised nature specials or on visits to aquariums. But that's what they are, situated near the top of the marine food chain, and their story illustrates the conflict between mankind and all top-level predators, as well as the need to expand our view of the financial and environmental benefits these creatures confer. Sea otters once abounded in coastal waters around the North Pacific Coast from Russia to Mexico.

Re "Migration of Otters Has Fur Flying," Sept. 6. The apparently unresolvable clash between fishermen and sea otters is not served well when terms like "stray" are used to describe an animal seen in an area where it has heretofore not been seen. Only pets and livestock stray. Emotional arguments aside, there is only one fact that really deserves consideration in this matter, perhaps two. First, the attempt to "manage" a wild species is pure folly motivated by an understandable desire to maintain a financial status quo; in this case, a false population of shellfish created by the sea otter slaughter of the 19th century.

Has kindness killed the sea otters? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service brought sea otters to San Nicholas Island hoping to help. They were trying to save them from oil spills, hunters and fishermen but instead, they caused more harm. Of the 69 sea otters they brought to the island, 10 died, 31 are missing and unaccounted for, and 13 swam away from the island. They brought 1 back to the mainland. Now they want to bring 70 more sea otters to the island! I think they should be stopped.

Researchers are trying to determine whether there's a link between runoff waters and the deaths of sea otters along the Central Coast. The state Water Resources Control Board recently approved nearly $500,000 to find out whether polluted runoff is killing sea otters from Half Moon Bay to Santa Barbara. There are now about 2,300 otters. Their numbers have thinned because of a high death rate from disease.

State and federal wildlife biologists were preparing Wednesday to fly the first 24 California sea otters to San Nicholas Island in a controversial and ambitious relocation effort. The 24 animals--the first of 70 scheduled for relocation this year--were expected to be moved from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to the island this morning. The otters were held in a secluded area in the aquarium after being captured off the San Luis Obispo County coast Monday and Tuesday.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to allow sea otters to roam freely down the Southern California coastline, abandoning its program to relocate the voracious shellfish eaters from waters reserved for fishermen. Federal officials determined that their sea otter trans-location program had failed after 25 years and thus they were terminating it, according to a decision published in the Federal Register on Wednesday. "As a result," the federal notice said, "it allows sea otters to expand their range naturally into Southern California.

Re "And the veep choice is…," Opinion, April 26 Among the criteria Doyle McManus lists for potential vice president picks is that the ideal candidate needs to avoid gaffes. His example is Sarah Palin, the 2008 nominee, but when mentioning Vice President Joe Biden all McManus refers to is Biden's securing the Pennsylvania vote. Biden is to gaffes as Thomas Edison was to electricity. The frequency and outrageousness of Biden's gaffes would make professional comedy writers insecure.

Re "Obama borrows a GOP tactic," News Analysis, April 28 Democrats have used wedge issues for decades. That's what identity politics is: playing one group off another for political gain. In the process, they sow division. Abortion is a wedge for both parties (coat hangers in back alleys and so on). And don't forget Social Security. When any reform proposal is raised, Democrats scare Grandma by telling her the GOP wants to cut off her checks. President Obama did just that last summer during the debt limit debate.

Re "GOP-backed bill would retain 'no-otter zone,'" April 27 I find it offensive that Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) would sponsor a bill limiting sea otters' reclaiming their historical range off Southern California. The article states, "Fishermen say their livelihood would be hurt by the unfettered expansion of sea otters into their fishing grounds. " Otters have been inhabiting "their" grounds much longer than humans have. Maybe we need a "no-fisherman zone" to protect the sea otters.

A bill backed by House Republicans would stall plans to let sea otters reclaim their historical range off Southern California because of concerns that the threatened marine mammals would compromise commercial fishing and military training operations. The Military Readiness and Southern Sea Otter Conservation Act , sponsored by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley), would keep a controversial "no-otter zone" south of Point Conception in place until wildlife officials develop a plan ensuring that the furry creatures and endangered abalone recover and that the commercial shellfish harvest stays at current levels.

After being brought back from the brink of extinction, sea otters are again in peril, with an unprecedented number of deaths along the California coast in the last year. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that 335 dead, sick or injured otters were found in 2011, a record high. "We're starting to see a perplexing trend suggesting increased shark attacks on sea otters," said Tim Tinker of the USGS' Western Ecological Research Center. Shark bites accounted for 15% of otter deaths in the late 1990s, but that percentage nearly doubled in 2010 and 2011, Tinker said.

They won't be asking about ethnicity or household income, but biologists have begun their annual spring sea otter census. Sea otters are a keystone species, mammals at the top of the food chain and an indicator of the health of the marine ecosystem that is their habitat. This year's count began Monday at Pescadero Point. Four field biologists armed with Leica binoculars and Questar scopes spotted nine otters, one fewer than last spring. The census is a joint project of the U.S.

When we think of predators, we don't usually think of sea otters, those cute, furry creatures seen in televised nature specials or on visits to aquariums. But that's what they are, situated near the top of the marine food chain, and their story illustrates the conflict between mankind and all top-level predators, as well as the need to expand our view of the financial and environmental benefits these creatures confer. Sea otters once abounded in coastal waters around the North Pacific Coast from Russia to Mexico.

Spend enough time on a boat in Southern California and you'll see your fill of sea lions, dolphins and even the occasional whale. But a group of whale watchers this week were treated to a less common sight, crossing paths with a sea otter off the coast of Laguna Beach. The Dana Pride was on a whale-watching excursion Monday afternoon when the crew spotted one of the furry marine mammals lingering just outside some kelp a quarter-mile offshore. "His head came up and they said, 'Wow, that's a sea otter' and it just came up and watched our boat," said Donna Kalez, general manager of Dana Wharf Sportfishing.