Unlike most marine mammals, sea otters are primarily insulated by fur, not blubber. In fact they have the densest fur in the animal kingdom. Sadly that thick, resplendent coat has also given otters ...

They confirmed that the "Great Land," did indeed exist; the fox, fur seal and sea otter pelts they brought showed this land to be a fur trader's paradise. Russian documents from the time indicate ...

Russian hunters pursued Alaskan sea otters for their luxuriant pelts — the densest in the animal kingdom — beginning in the 1740s and were eventually joined by British and Americans, who traded furs, ...

because the MMPA prohibits the sale of whole pelts. Douville has harvested hundreds of sea otters over the past two years. “Lately, we’ve had commercial divers thanking us when they see us wit ...

Only Alaska Natives can buy and trade raw pelts or other sea otter parts between each other, and make and sell traditional handicrafts out of sea otter fur and other parts for sale to non-Natives. The ...

Though they were hunted by some for their hides, sea otter robes could be worn only by people of high status ensuring they were not over-hunted. “Sea otters have represented prosperity to us ...

Sea otter numbers in the northern Pacific Ocean are thought to have ranged from around 150,000 to 300,000 up until the 18th century. But overhunting for their pelts brought the number down to ...

Back in the late 1800s, sea otters were hunted for their thick pelts to near extinction. And with them gone, urchin numbers rose, destroying many forests. Today, thanks to protection, sea otter ...