“Sea Otter Surrogacy Pairs Childless Otters with Orphan Pups”

Sea Otter “Foster Care” Is Gaining Validation

Whether swaddled in seaweed blankets or reclining on the bellies of their mamas (who float around on their backs) – sea otter pups are unbelievably cute – this is a fact. But they are more demanding than other marine mammals; so much so that their mothers become weak at the end of nursing them and have a higher mortality rate in California as a result. Orphaned baby sea otters are vulnerable without maternal guidance and protection. But it turns out that another female otter can take in a stranded pup and pick up where mom left off: grooming the pups and teaching them how to swim and find food.

Research as recently as last year confirms the efforts of the Monterey Bay Aquarium to pair orphaned otters with a surrogate mom. And this year, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach took in its first orphan to place in the care of a surrogate until time to release him/her into the wild. But the surrogacy program is demanding to run: an orphaned otter paired with a surrogate/foster/step-mother must do so out of the public’s eye. Staff coming into contact with the otters discourage human connection by donning a cape and mask in their presence. My story would report on otter surrogacy successes and challenges.

I’m an award-winning journalist with interests in marine life, the ocean and related issues. Articles in recent years have appeared in Nature Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, LATimes.com, the Southern California News Group and many others.

I look forward to hearing back about this article idea.