The sea otters at the Vancouver Aquarium were rescued when they were just babies. Sea otter researcher Erin Foster and naturalist Jackie Hildering count otters for a coastal survey around the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Follow us on social media and keep up-to-date with the geographic and travel quarterly magazine of British Columbia. To a sea urchin, crab or clam, a sea otter is a fearsome predator. Nichol said the otters are simply playing out their evolutionary role, but it "creates conflict with people who want shellfish." This morning, for example. From the moment she was discovered in 2004, orphaned and alone in the water by a boater near Sitka, Alaska, Tanu captured the hearts of everyone who met her. Now they’re thriving in their Aquarium habitat. On land, visitors may also notice beach-cast kelp, another potential sea otter effect. She suspects that kelp that wash up on the shoreline may feed the terrestrial ecosystem and the small animals that live on land, but more research needs to be done to test this assumption. Since then, otters have made a remarkable comeback. In this case, the estimated gain in potential revenue for tourism operators in the region would be approximately $9.5, tourism opportunities, these profits may not reach First Nations communities that are not part of the wildlife tourism economy and yet are often negatively impacted by the return of. Earlier today, the Vancouver Aquarium’s marine mammal trainers held a “snow enrichment session” with their six rescued sea otters: Tanu, Katmai, Mak, Kunik, Rialto, and Hardy. Otters’ impacts on coastal ecosystems can be far-reaching. Virtually the entire sea otter range is contained within the boundaries of Olympic National Park and, for the most part, can only be accessed by hiking from one to several miles. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of every email. Located in beautiful Port Alice, B.C. Where privacy and recreation come together to create Personalized Adventures! “It seems there is much more beach-cast kelp in areas with sea otters,” says Rechsteiner. The composition of social groups within the Vancouver Aquarium’s sea otter population changes frequently and for many reasons, among them enrichment, animal welfare, management ─ and healthcare. Welcome to Sea Otter Eco Tours Welcome to Sea Otter Eco Tours Welcome to Sea Otter Eco Tours Welcome to Sea Otter Eco Tours. “Sea otters are a huge drivers of change,” says Erin Rechsteiner, a research ecologist at the Hakai Institute and a PhD student at the University of Victoria’s Applied Conservation Science Lab. For example, when otters dig seagrass beds to find clams and leave foraging holes behind, they may be oxygenating the soil and helping the seagrass grow faster. It is with great sadness that we share the news that Tanu, the Vancouver Aquarium’s eldest rescued sea otter, passed on Tuesday surrounded by her animal care and her veterinary team. Vancouver Aquarium: two sea otters float around, napping, holding hands. There are about 5000 Sea otters in British Columbia, mostly seen in sea kelp beds from a boat. West Coast Expeditions is one of the only ecotourism businesses on Vancouver Island which is co-owned by First Nations, providing an opportunity for Aboriginal communities to benefit from sea-otter related tourism. “There is a market share they may be missing by not advertising sea otters,” Martone says. When Pinel leads land-based and kayak tours off Spring Island, he points to the multiple interactions between the sea otters and the local ecosystem, as tourists spot a flock of oystercatchers on a small rock or take notice of the healthy seagrass beds in the intertidal zone. When otters are not present, sea urchins, abalone, clams, crabs, geoducks and other invertebrates increase in abundance, opening up opportunities for First Nations and commercial fishers to harvest them. The ecological changes the otters trigger have an economic cost. They had just had a very successful fishing trip and were busily devouring a bunch of little flounders or sand dabs. 29 photos of Vancouver under a fresh blanket of snow, Canucks trade draft pick to Rangers for goaltender Marek Mazanec, Justin Trudeau just visited Burnaby's La Forêt Bakery (PHOTOS). We were treated to a family of six river otters in the bay just off Second Beach in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. In Washington, sea otter spotting is difficult at best. Coastal wolves that patrol the Mission Group of islands are able to include sea otters on the menu of their marine diet, while harlequin ducks follow sea otters in the wintertime, also hoping for a good meal. Between 1969 and 1972, 89 otters from Alaska were reintroduced to Checleset Bay. Coastal wolves that patrol the Mission Group of islands are able to include sea otters on the menu of their marine diet, while harlequin ducks follow sea otters in the wintertime, also hoping for a good meal. Earlier today, the Vancouver Aquarium’s marine mammal trainers held a “snow enrichment session” with their six rescued sea otters: Tanu, Katmai, Mak, Kunik, Rialto, and Hardy. Daily Hive is a Canadian-born online news source, established in 2008, that creates compelling, hyperlocal content. Vancouver Island Range The sea otter is distributed exclusively on the west coast of the island, ranging from Cape Scott in the north, to Barkley Sound in the south (though southward expansion is likely occurring). When Pinel leads land-based and kayak tours off Spring Island, he points to the multiple interactions between the sea otters and the local ecosystem, as tourists spot a flock of oystercatchers on a small rock or take notice of the healthy seagrass beds in the intertidal zone. This year, during many of our whale watching excursions, we have had the amazing opportunity to view these adorable marine mammals close to Victoria. Also, while Tofino-based tourismoperatorsmay benefit from increased sea ottertourism opportunities, these profits may not reach First Nations communities that are not part of the wildlife tourism economy and yet are often negatively impacted by the return of sea otters. For example, if there were more sea otters in an area, this would translate into a 7.4 percent increase in tourists choosing to go on a wildlife tour with a high probability of seeing a sea otter. And at the Vancouver Aquarium, you can also go behind the scenes to see and learn more about sea otters! If these dates don't work for you, consider our 4-Day Sea Otter Kayak Tour or 6-Day Sea Otter Kayak Tour trip dates! Biologists describe sea otters as a keystone species, meaning that as they come back, they are transforming the environment around them. Instead they rely on their dense fur coat for insulation against the cold. “I don’t have the same feelings toward them as my grandma.”, West Coast Expeditions offers a variety of sea kayaking tours from Spring Island – including a five-day sea otter kayaking expedition. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close. Otter Cams At the Seattle Aquarium, our marine mammals have been trained to move from one exhibit to another as needed to support animal management and so we may safely clean our exhibits. Rechsteiner fondly remembers once seeing 50 male otters getting blown into a small cove during a winter storm on the central coast. Meet the four, charming, inspiring sea otters and learn about their rescue stories: Elfin: One of the two male sea otters, Elfin was found alone in the waters near Juneau, Alaska by fishermen in 2001. On the other hand, the disturbance they create may contribute to releasing carbon buried in the sediment into the atmosphere. The long-term influence of these ecology wizards on the landscape is still not entirely understood. for decades were reportedly shot off the west coast of Vancouver Island between 1929 and 1930. Unlike the shallow-diving ducks, otters can dive down more than 20 metres to retrieve sea urchins and other invertebrates off the seafloor. The river otter is often confused with the sea otter, so we have a chart below that … Hunted to extirpation by fur traders, sea otters were absent in British Columbia by the 1930s. They bring back their catch to the surface, often lying on their back with food on the chest, while they eat and handle prey. The Vancouver Aquarium has just dropped what might be the cutest video of the season: an adorable group of sea otters playing in the fresh snowfall. Ironically, Spring Island—where the otters are now a regular sight—was named after Captain William Spring who was involved in the fur trade up and down the Pacific Coast and contributed to the decline of fur seal and sea otter populations in the late 1800s. Sea otters were locally extinct in British Columbian waters in Canada, until a plane containing a romp of otters arrived and set off a population boom – with unintended consequences. In this case, the estimated gain in potential revenue for tourism operators in the region would be approximately $9.5million per year. Their numbers and range have expanded rapidly, and there are now nearly 7,000 animals along the west coast of Vancouver Island and the central coast of B.C.Ironically, Spring Island—where the otters are now a regular sight—was named after Captain William Spring who was involved in the fur trade up and down the Pacific Coast and contributed to the decline of fur seal and sea otter populations in the late 1800s. The otters’ voracious appetite has profound implications for the local ecosystems. Martone noted that although tourists value the charismatic otters, the wildlife tour operators she interviewed did not perceive sea otters as a strong factor influencing their business. Vancouver Aquarium: Sea Otter Encounter - See 8,446 traveler reviews, 5,216 candid photos, and great deals for Vancouver, Canada, at Tripadvisor. River otters are very messy eaters—but they really appear to … That’s why you may occasionally see, for example, a fur seal or harbor seal in the sea otter exhibit. See also. During his tours, Pinel promotes cultural interactions between Kyuquot-Checleset First Nations members and tourists through a traditional salmon feast around an open fire. You will have much better chances of seeing them on a trip from Tofino, or perhaps from Port Hardy with Nakwakto Rapids Tours. Hunted to extirpation by fur traders, sea otters were absent in British Columbia by the 1930s. The otters were feeding over kelp beds where they were pulling up red turban snails and smashing them in half on rocks that they used as tools. “It was like being in a middle of a drumming circle.”, Martone showed that the potential revenue to tourism operators would change by several million dollars based on changes in sea otter abundance. She suspects that kelp that wash up on the shoreline may feed the terrestrial ecosystem and the small animals that live on land, but more research needs to be done to test this assumption. It’s not just the kids that are enjoying Metro Vancouver’s fresh sheet of snow. The otters were feeding over kelp beds where they were pulling up red turban snails and smashing them in half on rocks that they used as tools. In comparison, the equivalent figure for a high chance of seeing whales was $302. They were so young that they didn’t know how to eat by themselves or groom themselves yet. Their numbers and range have expanded rapidly, and there are now nearly 7,000 animals along the west coast of Vancouver Island and the central coast of B.C.Ironically, Spring Island—where the otters are now a regular sight—was named after Captain William Spring who was involved in the fur trade up and down the Pacific Coast and contributed to the decline of fur seal and sea otter populations in … From shore, shiny black heads can be seen at the surface of the water. Occasionally see, for example, a sea urchin, crab or clam, sea! 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