Exhibit / Sea Otters
Sea Otters
The sea otters at the Aquarium are famous for being cute and fluffy, but there’s more to them than being adorable.
Overview
Home to rescued sea otters
The sea otters at the Vancouver Aquarium were rescued when they were just babies. They were so young that they didn’t know how to eat by themselves or groom themselves yet. Dedicated staff had to bottle-feed and groom them until they learned how to do it themselves. Now they’re thriving in their Aquarium habitat.
What You'll See
Grooming
It is critical that sea otters keep their fur clean to maintain the insulating air layer between the water and their skin. Adults spend 30 percent or more of their day grooming their fur by licking and blowing into it.
What You'll See
Eating
To a sea urchin, crab or clam, a sea otter is a fearsome predator. Unlike whales and dolphins, they have no blubber to keep them warm in the chilly water, so they have to eat up to 30 percent of their body weight every day. Learn more about these cutely voracious predators during this show.
What You'll See
Otters holding hands
Sea otters often rest in groups called “rafts”. Rafting sea otters sometimes hold paws to stay together.
How We Help
Canada's only dedicated marine mammal rescue facility
Our rescue program, an Ocean wise initiative, is also one of the largest rescue facilities in the world - rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing over 150 marine mammals each year.
Sea Otters inhabit kelp forests, bays and coastal waters near islands,
reefs, and fjords in the North Pacific Ocean.
The Vancouver Aquarium is temporarily closed to the public as a preventative measure to help stop the spread of COVID-19 through our community. We have educational programming available online, and our gift shop remains open for online sales. Read more.