Check out this a one of a kind spot where sea otters love to hang out together to play, groom, eat, and nap every day of the year. All of this otterly adorable action takes place directly in front of the camera.
Sea otters are an iconic species, representing the beauty and diversity of marine life found along California’s coastline. They’re also considered a keystone species because of their critical importance to the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem. They eat sea urchins and other invertebrates that graze on giant kelp.
Without sea otters, these grazing animals can destroy kelp forests and consequently the wide diversity of animals that depend upon kelp habitat for survival. Additionally, kelp forests protect coastlines from storm surge and absorb vast amounts of harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Sea otters are also considered a sentinel species because their health reflects that of California’s coastal waters.
Where is this camera?
Elkhorn Slough harbors the largest tract of tidal salt marsh in California outside of the San Francisco Bay. It’s also home to the largest concentration of southern sea otters along the California coast. The slough and wetlands, adjacent to the Monterey Bay, provide critical habitat for hundreds of species, including sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, great egrets and brown pelicans. At the mouth of the Elkhorn Slough sits the Moss Landing Harbor, which is where the camera is located
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