Otter in the Water
The Latest News About BC’s Sea and River Otters

Presented by Linda Nichol
Tuesday, October 27, 7:00 pm

Lions Hall 

Join us at the Lions Hall on October 27 for a richly–illustrated look into sea otters, river otters, and their natural history on the BC coast.  

In this talk, DFO research biologist, Linda Nichol, will introduce people to the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) and its close relative, the river otter (Lontra canadensis), both of which live along the BC Coast. Sea otters, in particular, have a fascinating history on our shores. Primarily as a result of their valuable fur, sea otters were  extirpated from the BC Coast by the early 1900s, and they were driven to dangerously low populatons in other parts of their range along the Pacific Coast. 

In 1969-1972 sea otters were re-introduced to BC costal waters in a bold experiment. Have sea otter populations recovered significantly? Liinda brings a wealth of research and personal field experience to reveal what happened in the experimental re-introduction.

The sea otter brush with near extinction and subsequent recovery make for an illuminating story about the importance of top predators in structuring habitat and supporting biodiversity. 

Will sea otters begin to occupy the waters of the Salish Sea around Salt Spring Island? Do sea otters interact or compete with river otters? Bring your questions and curiosity to the Lions Hall, Tuesday, October 27. (A small donation at the door to cover costs appreciated.

Linda Nichol led the Fisheries and Oceans Canada sea otter assessment program and other marine mammal conservation research projects for over 20 years while at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo. As a coastal biologist she has spent much time along the BC coast collecting data to document both the recovery and behaviour of sea otters and other marine mammal species.