Need a Hug?
Oct. 21st, 2025 09:45 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)

I’m pretty sure I’ve posted this before, but it’s the closest most of us will get to a sea otter pup hug, so here you go!
Via VAMMRS
AWS outage
Oct. 20th, 2025 10:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png)
Edit: all services are running as of 16:12 CDT, but there is definitely still a backlog of notifications to get through.
Edit 2: and at 18:20 CDT everything's been running normally for about the last hour.
Sea Otters, Ocean Protectors
Oct. 20th, 2025 10:00 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)

Via Elakha Alliance, which writes:
🦦💚 Sea otters: Protecting the family, one bite at a time.
In the kelp forest ecosystem, everyone’s connected - from the tiniest sea star to the towering strands of kelp that create underwater forests teeming with life. But it’s the sea otter, a true keystone species, that keeps this family in balance.
By eating sea urchins (which would otherwise devour kelp unchecked), sea otters help these forests thrive - providing food, shelter, and protection for countless marine species. Without sea otters, the whole system can collapse… like a family missing its strongest protector.
🦦 By supporting Elakha Alliance's efforts to restore a native population of sea otters to the Oregon Coast, we’re working to bring back balance and resiliency to the ecosystem - for the health of the ocean, the coast, and all of us. Make a gift today or grab one of our adorable otter shirts 😊.
What a Chic Pose, Sea Otter
Oct. 17th, 2025 10:00 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)

Photo by keeper Lindsey via Point Defiance Zoo, which writes:
🦦 Moea, our rescued sea otter, is an estimated 16 years old. She is calm, confident, and loves spending time with her fellow otters. She’s also a foodie at heart, and her name is too! "Moea" is a nod to the scientific name for sweet potato. 🍠
Sea Otters Sniff the Air for a Hint of Incoming Snacks
Oct. 15th, 2025 10:00 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)

Via Sea Life Birmingham, which writes:
Did you know you can tell Ozzy and Ola apart by their noses? 🦦👃
Ozzy's nose is larger than Ola's!
Hey Man, Who's That Otter Comin' Down the Pool?
Oct. 14th, 2025 10:00 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)
Via Oregon Zoo, which writes:
Positive-reinforcement training like the sea otters' basketball routine plays a critical role in animal well-being. And while the shoot-around is mostly an enrichment exercise now, veterinarians say it could have additional health benefits as the young otters get older, staving off stiffness and arthritis in their senior years. Ottermatic all stars!
Head and Nose, Paws and Toes, Paws and Toes
Oct. 10th, 2025 12:27 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)

Photo by Martín Cárdenas L., via IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group, which writes:
Found only in southern Chile and Argentina, the Huillín is one of the world’s rarest otters. Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this semi-aquatic carnivore depends on clean rivers, lakes and coastal wetlands.
Habitat loss, pollution and invasive American mink (Neogale vison) have fragmented its range and reduced populations to a few strongholds in Patagonia.
The Huillín’s ability to live in both freshwater and marine habitats makes it unique among otters, but also vulnerable to environmental change.
The IUCN Otter Specialist Group continues working with local researchers to protect habitats, monitor populations, and raise awareness for this elusive species.