Sea Otter Awareness Week: Events hosted by Monterey Bay Aquarium, San Diego Zoo, Oregon Zoo & more!

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See this link for a more complete list of events:

Sea Otter Awareness Week

2024 Theme: Together We Thrive
This year’s Sea Otter Awareness Week theme highlights the interconnectedness of humans, sea otters and the environment. It encourages communities, organizations and individuals to work together for a healthier, more sustainable future.

Over the next 50 years, the transforming climate and detrimental actions by people will impose intense and undesirable effects on coastal habitats. Together We Thrive underscores how collective action can lead to significant positive impacts on sea otter conservation. It draws attention to the ways local communities, conservation groups, scientists and policymakers can join forces to tackle environmental challenges, establish sustainable practices and foster responsible stewardship of our natural resources.

If we cooperate, we can create a harmonious balance where sea otters flourish, coastal ecosystems achieve greater resilience and human communities realize the profound connections we share with the natural world.

From:
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/sea-otter-awareness-week

Sept. 23 (Mon) 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PT
Marine Mammal Monday: Retrofit, Rehabilitate, Reintroduce
Hosts: The Marine Mammal Center and Sea Otter Savvy

With over 25 years of work with southern sea otters—a threatened species—The Marine Mammal Center has provided many animals with a second chance at life and expanded overall knowledge of threats this species faces. Join sea otter experts for this special We Were Here presentation.

https://www.youtube.com/live/vvJ7AoGQC60

Sept. 24 (Tues.) 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PT
Float down the coast
Host: Sea Otter Savvy on Youtube

You’ll have the unique opportunity to virtually visit locations along the Pacific coast and witness areas with and without wild sea otters. We’ll travel southward as sea otter biologists, tribal representatives, and interpreters inform on sea otter behavior, habitat, and importance. Featuring Elakha Alliance, Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, Sea Otter Savvy, Defenders of Wildlife, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and CA State Parks.

https://www.youtube.com/c/SeaOtterSavvy

Sept. 25, 2024 (Wed.) 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PT
Living with Sea Otters: A New Look at Coexistence with a Recovering Species
Hosts: San Diego Zoo and Sea Otter Savvy

Join San Diego Zoo and Sea Otter Savvy for this special We Were Here sea otter event. Wherever you live on the California coast, sea otters are--or once were--living there too. Join sea otter biologist and Director of the nonprofit organization Sea Otter Savvy, Gena Bentall, as she shares stories about the past and present of human-sea otter coexistence in California, and what you can do to help ensure sea otters thrive in the future.

Sept. 26, 2024 (Thurs.) 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM PT, Coos Bay Public Library, Oregon
Sea Otters in Oregon—Road to Return
Hosts: Elakha Alliance and Coos Bay Library

Kyle Motley, Coastal Community Coordinator of the Elakha Alliance, will describe efforts to return an iconic and once-abundant native species to the Oregon coast—the sea otter. Kyle will tell us how their work to reintroduce the sea otter is so much more than just taking a group of sea otters from one place and moving them to Oregon.

SOAW: Sea Otters in Oregon - Road to Return Presentation (Coos Bay, OR) - Elakha Alliance

Sept. 27, 2024 (Fri.) 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM PT. Morro Bay, California
Every Otter Counts! A short film by Lars Nelson
Host: California State Parks

Walk the red carpet for the premiere screening of Every Otter Counts! This short film by Lars Nelson chronicles the efforts of Sea Otter Savvy and the vision that drives its mission. A Q&A session and otter-themed crafts for kids will follow the film.

Short Film Premiere: Sea Otter Awareness Week

Sept. 28, 2024 (Sat.) 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM PT
Elkhorn Slough Reserve Open House
Host: Elkhorn Slough Reserve

This year’s free Open House—on the shore of prime sea otter habitat—will include crafts and games, booths highlighting research and restoration, demonstrations by wildlife wardens, bird walks and more!

2024 Elkhorn Slough Reserve Open House | Elkhorn Slough

Oregon Coast Aquarium:

Oregon Coast Aquarium on Instagram: "It’s Sea Otter Awareness Week! This year’s theme is "Together We Thrive"-- highlighting the importance of a new kind of coexistence between wildlife and people--one that allows both to thrive. Follow along to learn more about #seaotters and join us here at the #OregonCoastAquarium on September 28 to celebrate Sea Otter Awareness Day! © @seaottersavvy Logo Design: Heather E. Barrett @hbarrett_otter #SeaOtterAwarenessWeek #TogetherWeThrive @seaottersavvy @defendersofwildlife @morrobaystateparks @elakhaalliance @montereybayaquarium"

Oregon Zoo:

Guests can stop by the Oregon Zoo marine life area Sept, 23–27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., for otter-themed games and a chance to chat with zoo staff and volunteers. Keeper talks take place at 12:45 p.m. each day, with a chance to watch the zoo’s three resident sea otters — Juno, Lincoln and Uni Sushi — scarf down sustainable-seafood treats and participate in training sessions.

And on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Elakha Alliance conservationists will be on hand to discuss current efforts to reintroduce sea otters in Oregon.

Zoo to celebrate Sea Otter Awareness Week

KPassionate at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium:

Kristyn Plancarte on Instagram: "Sea otter awareness week is here! What is your favorite sea otter fact? . . . #seaotter #seaotters #marinemammals #marinebiology #marinebiologist #marinemammal #otter #otters #seaotterawarenessweek #oceanlife #ocean #oceananimals #conservation"

Seattle Aquarium:

Seattle Aquarium on Instagram: "Happy #SeaOtterAwarenessWeek! What better way to kick off the week than by introducing you to the two otters we care for here at the Aquarium: Mishka and Sekiu! Mishka joined us in January 2015 after being caught in a fishing net as a young pup, then being rescued and rehabilitated by the Alaska SeaLife Center and deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Sekiu was born right here at the Seattle Aquarium in January 2012. Sekiu was the last sea otter born in a zoological facility in the United States. AZA-accredited institutions now prioritize keeping space available for sea otters that were rescued, rehabilitated and subsequently deemed non-releasable (like Mishka was). Need help telling them apart? The fur on Mishka's face is darker in color than Sekiu's! Try to identify them for yourself on your next visit!"

Shedd Aquarium:

Shedd Aquarium on Instagram: "We figured this audio fit perfectly for the first day of Sea Otter Awareness Week and the first official day of fall! Drop some in the comments to kick off Sea Otter Awareness Week with us!"

Vancouver Aquarium:

VA Marine Mammal Rescue Society on Instagram: "Today marks the start of Sea Otter Awareness Week, and we couldn’t be more excited! Each day, we’ll be highlighting a different sea otter that was rescued and cared for by VAMMRS. These stories reflect the hard work of our team and the resilience of these amazing creatures. Stay tuned to meet some of our most memorable otters, starting with Luna, the smallest otter we’ve ever rescued! Luna was rescued on July 13, 2024, from Vargas Island, weighing just 1.58kg. She was estimated to be less than 2 days old, making her journey even more remarkable. After 36 days of intensive care with us, Luna was transferred to the Vancouver Aquarium where she’s continued her recovery. In celebration of rescuing two baby sea otters in 2024—a first in our history—we’re excited to launch a special edition symbolic adoption! Now, you can adopt both Luna and Tofino. Head to the link in our bio to learn how you can support their journey and be part of their story. #BabySeaOtter #SeaOtterAwarenessWeek #MarineMammalRescue"

 

[SeaOtterHQ]

Berwick Park event
Friday, September 27, 2024
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM PT
Host: Pacific Grove Museum

Naturalists from the Pacific Grove Museum are hosting a table along the recreation trail at Berwick Park in Pacific Grove. We’ll have a spotting scope to look for sea otters, plus hands-on engagement to explore the natural history of sea otters. This is a free outreach event, with no registration required. We hope to see you there!

Sea Otter Awareness Week — Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

And a few more posts from zoos/aquaria:

Den Blå Planet:

Den Blå Planet on Instagram: "I dag starter Sea Otter Awareness Week, og derfor vil vi igen i år gerne sætte ekstra fokus på vores pelsede venner Kommer din hund også, når du kalder? Det gør vores havoddere – de elsker nemlig mad! De har faktisk brug for at spise op til 25% af deres kropsvægt hver dag for at holde varmen og energien oppe. Vi har fornøjelsen af at have fire af disse herlige oddere boende hos os: Agnes, Mojoe, Riggs og Dixon. Vidste du, at Den Blå Planet er det eneste sted i Nordeuropa, hvor du kan opleve havoddere? De kræver nemlig et specialdesignet anlæg og meget specifik pleje. Så husk at kig forbi havodderne næste gang, du besøger Den Blå Planet!"

Minnesota Zoo:

Minnesota Zoo on Instagram: "Let’s focus on some of our favorite furry faces during Sea Otter Awareness Week! When you visit Monday, September 23 - Saturday, September 28, 10 am to 2 pm, drop by the education stations at the sea otter habitat in Russia’s Grizzly Coast and inside the Zoo's south entrance. You’ll see that sea otters are big eaters, dining on up to 4,000 calories of restaurant-quality seafood every day. Once a day, staff will chat about otter nutrition and eating habits while Keepers feed the sea otters. What will the otters get their paws and claws on? Find out M/W/F at 11 am and T/Th/Sat at 2:15 pm. Plan your next visit today! Link in bio."

National Sea Life Centre at Birmingham:

SEA LIFE Birmingham on Instagram: "Happy Sea Otter Awareness Week! Pop along and see our two otterly adorable Sea Otters, Ozzy and Ola to celebrate #SeaOtter #Otter #Awareness"