Sea otters are keystone species whose welfare is tightly linked to kelp forest health. Oil spills pose catastrophic welfare threats requiring intensive rehabilitation efforts.
Oil spill welfare harms to sea otters are among the most acute and visible of any wildlife emergency. Oiled otters experience hypothermia, skin irritation, organ damage from grooming contaminated fur, and starvation as their ability to dive and forage is compromised. Rehabilitation is intensive, expensive, and not always successful — otters may suffer for days before rescue. Beyond individual welfare, oil spills disrupt the social structures of otters who form rafts of related individuals, breaking bonds that support pup survival.