Sea otters face welfare harm from fishing gear entanglement and oil spills that eliminate the insulating air in their fur, causing rapid hypothermia in cold Pacific waters.
Sea otters experiencing oil contamination face immediate hypothermia as petroleum dissolves the surface tension of their fur, collapsing air spaces that provide thermal insulation. Hypothermic otters show weakness, disorientation, and skin abrasions from rubbing contaminated fur. Rehabilitation is labor-intensive and traumatic for the animals involved, requiring physical handling that contradicts their naturally human-avoidant behavior. Prevention through oil spill response capacity and bycatch reduction programs is the welfare priority.