The Alaska SeaLife Center is concerned that 2016 will be another record year for responding to reports of sea otter strandings along the state’s coasts.
A stranded sea otter is one that washes ashore dead or alive according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The Center in Seward is the only permitted marine mammal wildlife rehabilitation entity in Alaska.
So far this year, there have been 80 reports of stranded otters, as well as two sea otter pups admitted to the facility within the last month, all before the summer stranding season begins.
A total of 300 otters were reported to the Center’s Wildlife Response Program in 2015 with that increase peaking in the month of September, which saw a rate 16 times higher than the same period in 2014.
The cause of the increase in otter deaths is unknown but many scientists are investigating the impact of the growing algal blooms caused by warmer ocean water temps.
Currently the Alaska SeaLife Center has six sea otters in residence and anticipates the trend will continue.
