Coastal Resource Information System

Sea Otter

The sea otter’s vulnerability to oil is high. Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters do not have a layer of fat to keep them warm in cool waters; instead they rely on their thick fur coat for protection. When oiled, a sea otter’s fur loses its insulating properties. An oiled sea otter will quickly die of hypothermia, or from the ingestion of oil while trying to remove it from its fur.

Link to the BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer for more background on Sea Otters.