Sea otters are found in coastal waters of the North Pacific Ocean, including:
- The Bering Sea
- The Gulf of Alaska
- The Pacific coast of Canada
- The Pacific Northwest of the United States
- California
- Japan
- Russia
Sea otters prefer cold, shallow water with abundant kelp and other marine vegetation. They use kelp to anchor themselves to the sea floor and to wrap themselves in for warmth. Sea otters also feed on kelp and other marine plants, as well as sea urchins, shellfish, and fish.
**Sea otters are social animals and live in groups called rafts. Rafts typically consist of several adult females and their young. Males are solitary and only join rafts during the breeding season. Sea otters are territorial and defend their territory from other sea otters.
Sea otters are important members of the marine ecosystem. They help to maintain kelp forests by grazing on sea urchins, which are kelp predators. Sea otters also help to create habitat for other marine animals by building underwater kelp beds. Sea otters are a threatened species and their population is declining due to hunting, habitat loss, and pollution.