History and status of translocated sea otter populations in North America

Abstract

Seven hundred and eight sea otters (Enhydra lutris) captured in Alaska were translocated from 1965 to 1972 in efforts to reestablish this species in parts of its range from which it was extirpated during the fur hunting period in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Alaska, 467 sea otters were translocated to several locations from 1965 to 1969. During the period 1969-72, 89 sea otters were translocated to British Columbia; 59 otters were released in Washington in 1969-70. During 1970-71, 93 sea otters were released in Oregon. Results of surveys of translocated populations are: (1) at the Pribilofs no reproduction was observed and few, if any, otters now remain there; (2) the southeastern Alaskan population is established; 479 otters were counted in 1975; (3) 70 otters, including some pups, were observed in 1977 in British Columbia; (4) 36 otters, including 1 pup, were observed in Washington in 1981; and (5) reproduction was observed in Oregon, and a high count in 1973 indicated 23 otters, but in 1981 only 1 was found. It is expected that this colony will disappear. WILDL. SOC. BULL. 10:100-107 Intensive exploitation of sea otters began soon after the discovery of the Commander Islands by Vitus Bering in 1741 and continued for the next 170 years (Kenyon 1969). During this period sea otters were eliminated from much of their original range, which extended from the northern islands of Japan to the central Pacific coast of Baja California. Remnant populations survived only on the Kamchatka coast; in the Kuril, Aleutian, and Commander Islands of the north Pacific; in the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia; near Point Sur, California; and near Cedros Island and San Benitos Island, Mexico. The Mexican and British Columbian populations disappeared by 1919 and 1929, respectively (Ken-