help save the sea otter

  • Things around the house
  • Do's and Don'ts of Sea Otter Watching
  • Donate Money to the Otter Cause
  • Take Action!


    Around the House

    You don't need vast sums of money to help the sea otter stay alive. However, every cent is appreciated, if you decide to donate money.

    Here are simple things that you can do around the house that, though they may seem unrelated to the sea otter, can help enormously:

    - Recycle everything that can be recycllled at home and school
    - Stop using plastic bags - take reusabbble bags to the store or request paper bags
    - Use waxed paper, aluminum foil, or ceellulose bags instead of plastic at home and school
    - Choose paper and glass packaging overr plastic when shopping
    - Avoid Styrofoam and plastic containerrs at fast food restaurants
    - Refill and reuse containers when apprrropriate

    - All of these things will help the wattter stay clean and safe for the sea otters!

    Also, another huge help is to conserve electricity.

    Conserve electricity at home by:

    Turning off lights and appliances when not in use, keeping the thermostat turned down to minimize the use of heat, using energy-efficient light bulbs, walking, biking, carpooling, or taking public transportation instead of getting in the car at least one day a week.

    By doing so, you help to ensure that the otter has a safe, clean environment. Every person who does little things like this helps big to the sea otters!

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    Watching sea otters in the wild can be a lot of fun. The best places are in the Monteray area - when I was in California, we saw dozens of sea otters. So, if you decide to go sea otter spotting, just make sure you follow these rules to make it safe for you and the otters.

    DO's AND DON'Ts OF OTTER SPOTTING

    Do plan to spend time walking the recreation trail along the Monterey Bay.
    Do carry binoculars for better viewing.
    Do bring a camera, preferably with a telephoto lens.
    Don't go near any otter hauled up on land.
    Don't go near otters if you're out on the water in a boat or personal watercraft.
    Don't, in any way, disturb otters in their environment.

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    Sites to donate to:

    Friends of the Sea Otter
    Friends of the Sea Otter is a non-profit organization that focuses entirely on sea otters. This is an extremely good cause and a very effective organization.

    The Endangered Species Chocolate Company
    This is an extremely cool site! Help save sea otters by buying chocolate bars! The site allows you to choose an animal you want to support, and the money you spend on high quality chocolate goes to that animal! Sea otters are included, along with 17 other endangered species.

    Save Sea Otters
    This site is another organization aimed to help save the sea otter. A good place to donate your money, though not as tasty as the Endangered Species Chocolate Company!

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    Take Action!
    Please write to your congressional representative and senators and ask them to support an appropriations request for $1.7 million per year for the next five years. You can get the address through NCPA's web site, at www.npca.org. You can also write to James Clark, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and ask him to increase the agency's efforts to determine why otters are declining. Send letters to the Department of Interior, 1849, C Street, N.W., Washington DC 20240.

    Every person who makes an effort makes it possible for sea otters and humans to co-exist!

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