River otter | adibarocas

The coastal Alaska river otter project, in which I have been involved since my Ph.D. in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, started in the 1990's, after the Exxon Valdez oil spill caused serious injuries to several marine mammal populations in coastal southcentral Alaska.

Coastal River otters are more social than their inland counterparts. They live in flexible groups, mostly composed of males. Using camera traps and non-invasive density estimation techniques, we recently enhanced our understanding of the social system and demographic status of Alaska river otter populations. Our results indicate a significant decline in the Knight Island (Prince William Sound) population, likely associated with shifts in oceanic conditions.

River otters are an ecologically sensitive species, and their abundance can influence the flow of nutrients from sea to land in coastal ecosystems. Our team of researchers, led by professor Merav Ben-David of the University of Wyoming and Howard Golden, is currently formulating a long-term plan to monitor river otter populations and regulate their harvest in southcentral Alaska.