Sea Otter
Sea OtterSea OtterSea OtterSea Otter

Sea Otter

Enhydra lutris

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
80–90% · Very likely
overall probability at Kenai Fjords National Park
183 Verified records at Kenai Fjords National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (30–100 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the ocean. The sea otter inhabits nearshore environments, where it dives to the sea floor to forage. It preys mostly on marine invertebrates such as sea urchins, various mollusks and crustaceans, and some species of fish. Wikipedia →

80–90% of wildlife watchers report a Sea Otter sighting in Kenai Fjords National Park, based on 183 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Kenai Fjords National Park

Northern River Otter
LC Endemic

Northern River Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lontra canadensis

Insufficient data
Stoat
LC Endemic

Stoat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mustela erminea

Insufficient data
Harbor Seal
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

80–90% · Very likely
Northern Sea Lion
NT

Northern Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eumetopias jubatus

80–90% · Very likely
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

40–50% · Likely
Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

30–40% · Possible
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

90–100
Jan
90–100
Feb
90–100
Mar
90–100
Apr
80–90
May
80–90
Jun
80–90
Jul
80–90
Aug
80–90
Sep
70–80
Oct
80–90
Nov
80–90
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
80–90%
2 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
3 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
4 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
5 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
20–30%
6 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Sea Otter in Kenai Fjords National Park?

About 86% of wildlife watchers report a Sea Otter sighting in Kenai Fjords National Park, based on 183 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Sea Otter in Kenai Fjords National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Sea Otter in Kenai Fjords National Park in our monthly data.

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