Sea Otter - Hugh Miller Inlet

A sea otter keeps watch on its surroundings.

NPS Photo/D. Morda

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Sea Otter, Enhydra lutris ~ The Glacier Bay sea otter population has rebounded from zero to almost 9,000 in the last 20 years. Voracious eaters of shellfish like crabs and clams, they exert a strong influence on their environment and scientists anticipate dramatic changes will take place in the underwater world of Glacier Bay. Sea otters perform many of their daily tasks such as eating, bathing, and sleeping while floating on their backs. Lacking a thick layer of blubber, otters instead have the densest fur of any mammal with up to one million hairs per square inch. Generally dark brown, their faces get whiter as they age.
The sea otter is one animal you are almost guaranteed to see during your visit to Glacier Bay. Hugh Miller Inlet branches off from the lower part of Glacier Bay's West Arm, and is one of many locations to find sea otters in the park. If you're staying in Bartlett Cove, keep an eye (and ear) out for them as they float around the docks. They can be found floating in rafts of dozens of animals, or striking out in small groups to find the food that feeds their high metabolism.
 

See the National Park Service's effort to study this keystone species.

Learn about the sea otter's history in Glacier Bay, potential impacts, and current threats.

*Location note: The location chosen for this sea otter is for illustrative purposes only. Sea otters can be found throughout Glacier Bay! Stay wildlife aware, and never approach wild animals.