Day 4, October 21, 2007

Hi Waterford School students and staff! I received your questions and have checked with the marine scientists here to help me answer them. First, in regards to the dolphins, our scientist, Tom Jefferson, who specializes in dolphins, said that the dolphins here on the West Coast do not actually ride the waves into shore to catch fish. However, in the Atlantic around North Carolina and Georgia they do that. The waves on our coast are too large and fish are not washed onto the shore. About the preference to feeding on one side, he didn't know if they actually do that or not. But, he said some research on fin whales has shown that their jaw on the right side is white and is dark on the left side. They suspect this is an adaptation to help the fin whales to corral the fish, because the white jaw reflects the light and causes the fish to move away.
Now as for the otters...there is some research showing that some otters have been affected by a parasite that comes from cat feces. It seems to weaken their immune system causing the otter to be more susceptible to other things. Around here they are trying to educate cat owners to bag their cat litter and send it to the landfill rather than putting it down the drain which sends it into the sea. Hope this information helps. Thanks for writing!
Hi EWHS students! I will try to answer your questions. We don't know for sure why the gulls are injured. Hunting season just opened...ummm. The sea otters we are studying live in Monterey Bay. There are also some otters that live in Alaskan waters. You can check research to see where other sea otters live. The local otters are at risk from contamination from pollution, from red tides and also a parasite that comes from cat feces. The female otters only have one baby and she will care for her pup for 6 months. Pups (babies) require constant care - grooming and feeding. Otters may be solitary or in groups. The young males make up most of the "raft" (the group) that we have been observing. Older males will take over a territory and keep others out. Another interesting thing about otters is they have retractable claws, like cats their claws go in and out.
Here some pictures of the Elkhorn Slough where lots of otters hang out. And also a picture of an otter jaw, it's very strong! More later....