In March 2024, in our own version of March Madness, Chalice UUC voted otters as our favorite animals. We voted in six rounds over five weeks, whittling 64 animals down to the winner. The votes of children and youth ages 17 and younger were weighted. Otter and fox were our two finalists, and otter won decisively!

Differences Between Sea Otters and River Otters

There are over a dozen different otter species in the world, but only two in North America—the sea otter and the North American river otter. The most obvious difference between them is that one lives in the ocean and the other lives in fresh water, but there are a few other things that make each species distinct.

Sea otters are much bigger than river otters. They weigh anywhere from 45-90lbs while little river otters only weigh about 20 lbs. Sea otters have a short, flat tail and river otters have one that is long and round. Sea otter fur is much more dense, giving them that super furry face that everyone loves. River otters look more like weasels. 

Fun fact: Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal. This dense fur is what keeps them warm since they don’t have a thick layer of blubber like walruses, seals, and sea lions.

River otters swim on their stomachs while sea otters spend most of their time floating on their backs. River otters spend a good chunk of their lives on land as they mostly use water to travel and hunt. Sea otters, on the other hand, spend their lives almost exclusively in the water; they even give birth in the ocean! They also tend to only have one pup at a time while river otters often have four!

Sea Otters Are A Keystone Species

Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning they have disproportionate impact on their environment. They are found in shallow coastal waters of the North Pacific, from the coasts of California and Washington up to Alaska. You can read more about them and why they are imperiled at the Defenders of Wildlife website.

Protecting Otters and Oceans

The best way to support sea otters is to protect their ocean habitat. We ask Chalice congregants to commit to one of the following actions:

• Attend our North County UU beach cleanup on Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 9-11 a.m. in Oceanside. This cleanup is led by the Surfrider Foundation. Please meet us on the sand near Lifeguard Tower 8, which is close to the corner of Breakwater Way and The Strand N. We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before the cleanup start time to find parking in the parking lots on The Strand or on-street. Wear your UU garb if you have it!
  
  Please register to attend at https://sandiego.surfrider.org/beach-cleanup-volunteers. They will have supplies, but it is helpful to bring trash bags (not plastic!) and a trash grabber of your own. Please also bring your own water bottle. There is a waiver for our congregants under the age of 18.
  
• Stop using plastic straws
• Stop using single-use water/beverage bottles
• Ask for no plastic utensils when ordering takeout
• Choose one product you routinely buy in plastic tubs and
  • Stop buying it OR
  • Find a similar product that comes in a glass jar OR
  • Find another way to obtain the product (for example, making it yourself)
• Eat sustainable seafood at home and at restaurants (research at https://www.seafoodwatch.org/recommendations/download-consumer-guides)
• Read pet food labels and consider seafood sustainability when choosing a diet for your pet ((research at https://www.seafoodwatch.org/recommendations/download-consumer-guides)
• Eat vegan or vegetarian one day a week

Sea Otter Awareness Week is in September

Sea Otter Awareness Week is the last week of September (September 22-28 in 2024). You can look over the events and activities (many of them streamed online via Zoom or YouTube) on the Defenders of Wildlife website.

Organizations to Support

The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA www.marinemammalcenter.org
The Marine Mammal Center advances ocean health through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, research, and education. This is the organization benefitting from our Sunday morning collection on September 22.

Sea Otter Savvy in Moss Landing, CA www.seaottersavvy.org
Sea Otter Savvy strives to foster community awareness and involvement to reduce human-caused disturbance to sea otters and promote responsible wildlife viewing. 

Surfrider Foundation in San Clemente, CA www.surfrider.org
The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network.

Ocean Defenders Alliance in Huntington Beach, CA www.oceandefenders.org
Ocean Defenders Alliance works to clean and protect marine ecosystems through documentation, education, and meaningful action. Working with affected communities, they focus primarily on the reduction and removal of man-made debris which poses serious threats to ocean wildlife and habitats.

Elakha Alliance in Siletz, OR www.elakhaalliance.org
The Elakha Alliance was formed by tribal, nonprofit, and conservation leaders with a shared mission: To restore a healthy population of sea otters to the Oregon coast and to thereby make Oregon’s marine and coastal ecosystem more robust and resilient.

Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, DC www.defenders.org
Founded in 1947, Defenders of Wildlife is the premier U.S.-based national conservation organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of imperiled species and their habitats in North America. Their focus includes attention to “keystone species”—including sea otters—that create or maintain habitat for other wildlife. On August 11, 2020, Friends of the Sea Otter merged with Defenders of Wildlife after closing their operations. You can read about Defenders’ work with sea otters here: https://defenders.org/wildlife/sea-otter

The Nature Conservancy www.nature.org/en-us/
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of their diverse staff and over 400 scientists, they impact conservation in 81 countries and territories: 40 by direct conservation impact and 41 through partners. Their mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

Oceana www.oceana.org
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Mission: Oceana is campaigning around the globe to protect and restore the world’s oceans. They have nine campaigns: Save the Oceans, Feed the World; Climate and Energy; Responsible Fishing; Protect Habitat; Plastics; Aquaculture; Protect Species; Transparency, and Deep-Sea Mining.