In the past, sea otters were hunted to near extinction for their valuable furs. Though there have been efforts to restore the population that once thrived off the California coast, otters face more dangers today because of oil spills, plastic waste, and other pollution. Otters are an important part of the marine environment and are a keystone species - they help keep the populations of urchins are other invertebrates down, allowing kelp to thrive and benefit other marine creatures. Join the Otter Initiative and help keep the otters safe!