How Otters Help Us Learn About the Ocean June 4. 2011
Sure sea otters are cute and adorable but they're so much more than that, they're an important gauge of the condition of our oceans. We live in a world of convenience but you know we're being selfish when there's a giant island of floating trash in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that's slowly poisoning our oceans and by our consumption of fish and other seafood we also poison ourselves. In a recent article in Monterey County's The Herald, sea otters are helping us learn about our Ocean.
From The Herald: Scientists can tell from testing the animals' blood the extent to which they've been subject to oil, parasites or other types of stress. They also conduct a stable isotope analysis of otters' whiskers to chart their diet over the course of a year.
So what can we do to help otters and our oceans? Recycle, don't flush your kitty litter, use reusable water bottles and do your best not to contribute to our polluted air and ocean. I know it's tough because we love our modern conveniences but they do come with a price.
Click to read the article "Otters Hold Clues to Coastal Health" at The Herald
