Sea otter pups depend entirely on their mothers for survival and face specific welfare challenges from oil spills, mother separation, and predation in their first months of life.
Pups separated from mothers experience rapid hypothermia from wet fur that has not been properly maintained. The mother-pup bond is critical for both physical warmth and nutrition through nursing. Oil spills that coat maternal fur reduce buoyancy and grooming ability, indirectly harming pups through compromised maternal welfare. Rehabilitation of orphaned pups requires immense effort including surrogate mother otters who teach wild behaviours. Each pup represents significant investment in recovery of a threatened population.