(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
 . . . . . . . . . .



Living With the Animals: The Rise of the Sea Otters [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-07-23  

Let me introduce you to Sea Otter 841. She lives in the kelp beds offshore of Santa Cruz, California and is part of a species nearly exterminated but now on the road to recovery.

Some people think this spunky five year old has been a bad girl. She has been stealing surfboards and paddleboards. She sometimes chews on them a bit as she drags them into the kelp beds and she puts up a stout defense when the owners try to reclaim them. Most times surfers have had problems with 841 and other Otters when the critters try to get up on the surfboards. 841 learned a new trick — she abducts the board first.

You can read the whole story HERE.

This is an animal with an objective -- clearly she wants her own surfboard. It’s not difficult to see why when you consider the environment these creatures live in. Sea Otters are prey to sharks, many of which are found in this same stretch of coast. Sitting on the surfboard gives an elevated view and a much better chance of spotting any sharks at a distance. Furthermore, it is necessary for Otters to haul out from time to time to warm up and dry their fur. They are actually terrestrial creatures who returned to the sea, and working air into their fur is the only way for them to provide enough insulation to survive 45 degree water. Where she spends most of her time may have too few rocks and too far away to haul out. Something that floats in the right spot would be perfect.

Unfortunately, the fate of 841 seems sealed. She will spend the rest of her life in an aquarium/zoo. As a member of a protected species, she cannot just be killed. Darting her with sedatives is out of the question because she could fall into the water and drown. This is one smart critter since she has learned to avoid all nets, but humans are clever too and will eventually conjure a method to catch her.

I have a counter proposal. Why not give her a personal surfboard? We could anchor some surfer’s old ride or a small barge in the kelp beds outside the surf line. She would be in a protected zone where people would be required to keep a certain distance away and not give food to her. Sitting up on a board would make her much more viewable, and people would come from miles around to see her.

I know that this suggestion will raise a critical question. Should we so consistently require that wild animals have no association with human culture, or can they borrow a little of it if it makes their lives a bit easier or even possible? Human beings have already put out a considerable effort to preserve the Otters from disappearance. Is there a logical limit to such concern?

We already make many accommodations to the wild species so that they can continue to survive on the earth. We build bridges for deer to cross roadways. Several species such as condors and beavers would be extinct now but for the efforts we have made to preserve them. Where I live it is not allowed to kill a rattlesnake who slithers into my yard. The police send out a specially trained officer to take it and release it in the nearby greenbelt to do its job which is to eat rodents. In a port city near me the Sea Lions haul out on the docks to warm up, and the people with the boats there just walk around them. These are examples where we have integrated with the wild species somewhat.

So how should it be for 841? It seems that she is asking us a question.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/7/23/2182835/-Living-With-the-Animals-The-Rise-of-the-Sea-Otters

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/