Thank you to illustrator, Liz Birdwell, for this amazing graphic!
Here in Oregon, we often get asked: “Wait, aren’t otters already here?”
Yes – North American river otters live in many of our rivers, estuaries, and even venture into the ocean 
. But they’re not the same as sea otters, which have been missing from our coast for over a century.
. But they’re not the same as sea otters, which have been missing from our coast for over a century.Here are a few key differences:
Sea otters live entirely in the ocean – they eat, sleep, and even give birth in the water! River otters are semi-aquatic – they split their time between land and water. Sea otters are larger, have denser fur (the thickest in the animal kingdom!), and use tools 
to crack open prey like clams and urchins. River otters are more agile on land, and their diet includes fish, frogs, and small crustaceans. They also have longer tails!Oregon’s marine ecosystems evolved with sea otters playing a vital role. Restoring them means restoring balance to our kelp forests, estuaries, and coastal food webs.
