How Do You Raise a Baby Sea Otter? | A Marine Biologist EXPLAINS!

#seaotter #babyotter #kpassionate
Its no secret that baby sea otters are cute! But taking care of them is an extremely specialized process. These marine mammals need around the clock care. In the wild, their mothers will not only feed them... but teach them important life skills like how to groom the densest fur coat in the animal kingdom. And it falls upon us humans to teach them these skills when they are abandoned or orphaned. In this video I tell you exactly what goes into raising a baby sea otter!
The sea otters in this video were all rescued as young, dependent pups after being tragically orphaned and separated from their mothers. They were deemed non-releasable by various government agencies.
Rialto was discovered stranded on Rialto Beach in Olympic National Park. At the time, he was less than a month old. I was one of the lucky marine biologists tasked with nursing this sea otter back to health with 24/7 care, both at the Seattle Aquarium and eventually the Vancouver Aquarium.
Joey the Sea Otter was rescued in 2020 off the coast of Vancouver Island after his cries were heard throughout the night. It was determined that he was only a day old and that his mother had tragically passed away. I was one of the lucky marine biologists who participated in his rescue and rehabilitation. Since he was so young at the time of rescue, biologists at the Department of Fisheries Canada determined that Joey the Sea Otter lacked the skills to survive in the wild and thus deemed him non-releasable. He has thrived under human care and adapted well to his new otter family.
Quatse was found on a beach in British Columbia after becoming separated from her mother and was quickly reported to the B.C. Marine Mammal Reporting Network hotline. After her rescue, Quatse the sea otter - named after the Quatse River -- received 24 hour care and rehabilitation.
Just like Rialto and Joey, she was assessed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada who deemed Quatse non-releasable due to her young age at stranding, and her inability to forage for live food or escape predation."
I was one of the lucky biologists who raised and cared for Quatse. This feisty little sea otter has made a full recovery and gone on to live a vibrant and healthy life under human care where she has become an ambassador for her species.
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MUSIC FROM
Scott Buckley
www.scottbuckley.com.au
ADDITIONAL OTTER FOOTAGE
@Jessleedb
www.twitch.tv/jessleedb
STOCK PHOTOS BY
sheilaf2002 - stock.adobe.com
roberto - stock.adobe.com
manuel - stock.adobe.com

[@attc5906]

I’m going to be honest. Most of us who’ve been following Joey since the beginning learned most of this info during his care and the Q&A’s. I came for the extra footage that’s hiding in your phone. 😂.

[@KPassionate]

I'm sure there are still many things you can learn!

[@attc5906]

Absolutely! And thank you for being an amazing teacher! 🙏🏼💕

[@Jenny24601]

The time you were trying to watch the video, and he just got in your face and just SCREAMED was an epic moment. 😂

[@KPassionate]

It sums up Joey

[@kristinann987]

The montage of Joey screaming 🤣 I wish he got to meet Tanu 🥺

[@KPassionate]

Tanu was a nice old lady ❤

[@helenpruzan6970]

Baby Taz and meeping Joey!!!!Always ridiculously adorable!!!

[@lb1460]

Such good otter parents here. They're so well cared for and loved by so many.

[@shannonessig5959]

This took me back to those early few months of Joey's live feed. Some people in the chat would be genuinely outraged at his care, because they saw him as "a baby." And the live feed was the nanny cam. :) LOL. If the vet techs and trainers weren't scooping him up and cuddling him, or staying with him in "the playroom", pouring out a bucket of stuffed animals and Legos, or swimming around in the pool with him, they were cold, heartless people, ignoring and abandoning a poor, lonely orphan. LOL. Obviously, these opinions were not the norm. But, I'll be honest, there were a few times when I was grateful that you all were wearing masks, so your identities were safe. :) Great content!

[@KPassionate]

Yes it can be hard for people to remember that they don't actually know what goes into taking care of an otter when they are so invested like that hahaha

[@MothGirl007]

I was a mod then and that part was a total nightmare - so many misguided online helicopter parents.

[@Dirty_Squirrell]

Results are in. You have the best job in the world. Congratulations.

[@kimberlyhendricks1229]

Thank you KP. Great video for anyone that wasn't watching you guys 24-7 taking care of baby Joey. Love all the dedication and care that you guys give these amazing animals. A whole new world of marine mammals has been opened for all of us land locked people.

[@KPassionate]

The internet is great for bringing the coast to you guys hahaha

[@youdj_app]

You have the best job ever 😃 I spend my day watching sea otters videos 😄

[@KPassionate]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@kellecantwell4898]

KP, I am really enjoying your Deeper Dives. They are entertaining as well as informational.

[@KPassionate]

Glad you like them!

[@kylieellway2]

Fascinating deeper dive.

[@KPassionate]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@sarahcarter-ali4096]

Another great video KP thank you meeps ❤️🐾

[@KPassionate]

You are so kind! Thanks for watching.

[@luvergirl416]

This was a great episode!

[@KPassionate]

Yay! I'm glad you think so!

[@thedailyclaire]

This is so wonderful oh my goodness! I wanted it to go on for hours.

[@KPassionate]

Glad you enjoyed it! Good news for you is our videos keep getting longer and longer hahaha

[@carolbignell5067]

Always look forward to your videos KP

[@KPassionate]

Glad you like them!

[@pla5730]

The paw sucking at 9:54 ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@KPassionate]

We try to sprinkle in the cute clips hahaha

[@heatfitz]

Your work with sea otters and their pups has been monumental. Thank you KP for your tireless dedication.

[@BizzeeBillie]

This filled in some areas I was curious about having watched Joey. Thank you! Every Deeper Dive is a treat!

[@Finnrasiel]

Baby Sea Otters!!!!!!

[@KPassionate]

Who can resist!

[@realreviews4102]

Thanks for this informational video. It breaks my heart that people intervene with pups crying when their mom likely just went to hunt for food. Because of human ignorance the pup may never see their mom again 🥺

[@Lindadelarosa]

I really love your channel, you have an awesome job 😍

[@KPassionate]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Time77738]

Thanks for sharing!

[@KPassionate]

You bet!

[@greatloverofmusic1]

LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOVE!!

[@Mirandorl]

4:21 Wait ... so, now I want to know what an otter poot sounds like. I have no idea why.

[@anotherone53]

Nice sharing new friend 🧡👍🥰 stay connected.💞

[@KPassionate]

Thank you, I will

[@user-Aa310]

I like the little paws. 😊

[@minimomma1]

Really good video KP

[@KPassionate]

Thank you!

[@ria279]

Thank you, now I understood more of what were the care taker exactly did when I watched Joey camera. Guess now I'm ready to have sea otter as a pet. Just joking :D

[@heatfitz]

Thanks!

[@KPassionate]

Thank you so much!!!

[@arfriedman4577]

I love sea otter. I wish I thought to take zoo in college. You have awesome career.

[@CaramelSunflowers]

Raising the spirited child x 2 with Joey and Taz 😄

[@jesslee5170]

Joey meeeeeeps .... tx KP So many babes.... Rialto, Tazzy, Joey Quatse .....❤🥰😊

[@birgittyree6733]

Great video!

[@KPassionate]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@birgittyree6733]

@@KPassionate I look forward to it every week! I have really enjoyed watching you evolve! You have a gift!

[@kj_wine]

Otter mum Baby is too meepy!!, Rescue centre’s please assist - Vaqua your issue now.

[@pla5730]

LMAO "meepy" love it 😉

[@KPassionate]

100% this is probably why most of them were abandoned.

[@olgagachaphoenix9130]

2:48 they look grown up to me

[@agressivekukumbeer8658]

Thank you for the great work of vulgarisation and with the animals :) I love your videos so much ! Could it be possible to turn down the music while you're speaking ? It makes it a bit difficult to listen to you. Sorry if my English is poor.

[@KPassionate]

We are working to fix sound issues. Thank you for letting us know!

[@andydufresne5297]

@@KPassionate I noticed the background music becoming too loud as well. Either it got louder or your voice got softer; at one point, it was hard to hear you over it.

[@KPassionate]

@@andydufresne5297 thanks! I think we know what the issue was. Hopefully won’t happen again.

[@mariag.8242]

Your English is remarkably good - and most Canadians can’t even speak both official languages of the country! The word choice you might reconsider is “vulgarisation.” I’m guessing your first language is latin based but in English vulgar has lost the meaning “of the people” and now means “rude” or “disgusting.” You might prefer “popularization” or “making the information accessible to non-experts.” Great comment too - I agree completely with both points!

[@agressivekukumbeer8658]

@@mariag.8242 Thank you for your kind explanation :) I'm French so my first language is indeed latin-based. I'll use "popularization" from now on :) And thank you KP for taking us into account, the amount of work and time you spend for us is incredible !

[@ilhaamfoster4617]

I think the DUIN KZbin channel needs to see this. KP please check out a KZbin channel called DUIN you would be SHOCKED at how he "claims" to be rehabilitating sea otters. A 3 week old died in his care recently 😳🤯😥

[@KPassionate]

Uh what? That would be very illegal. I can’t find any channel by this name.

[@pla5730]

Is that Taz at 10:23??

[@doubleagentxv120]

The blonde one with her paws on her head is Katmai. The one on the scale right after that is Rialto.

[@gillianslaunwhite5007]

everybody hated this. KIDDING! tho who was the weirdo who thumbs down

[@KPassionate]

There is always one troll. Jokes on them though because KZbin counts thumbs up and thumbs down exactly the same so it boosts my algorithm for a while

[@carolinelincoln9076]

Why do they roll in the water when they get something to eat?

[@KPassionate]

It is believed this is because they are rinsing themselves and their food of oils that can cause matting on their fur!

[@abloodstore]

Lil corks lol

[@bryan3dguitar]

Why do you beg for subscriptions (and more) even before people have seen what you have? And please skip the music entirely. Give us natural sounds only and more video of the animals instead of close-ups of you, the narrator.

[@KPassionate]

This video is several years old. I've grown a lot since then. Feel free to check out any of my recent videos.