Sea otters are uniquely vulnerable to oil spills because they rely entirely on their fur for insulation rather than blubber like most marine mammals.
Oil-contaminated sea otters die from hypothermia, exhaustion from constant grooming attempts, and toxin ingestion. The death is slow and distressing. Oil spill response that captures and cleans otters saves individual animals but is labor intensive. Prevention through better pipeline safety and reducing oil dependence provides lasting protection.