Sea otters are a keystone species whose welfare depends on kelp forest health, clean water, and freedom from oil spills and entanglement. Understanding their needs supports both conservation and welfare.
Sea otters face multiple welfare threats including oil spill contamination, entanglement in fishing gear, gunshot wounds, and domoic acid toxicosis from harmful algal blooms. Stranded sea otters require intensive veterinary care including fur decontamination, nutritional support, and prolonged rehabilitation before release. Captive sea otters — typically those unable to survive in the wild — require complex environments with puzzle feeders, varied diet, and social housing. Shark bite survivors who cannot be released face life-long captive care needs. Climate change threatens kelp forests that provide the food base sea otters depend on for survival.