Scientists working to understand otter population decline
By Jackie Bartz Channel 2 News
ANCHORAGE, Alaska
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is looking into what's killing hundreds of otters off the coasts of Alaska.This year scientists have dissected 80 sea otters. In some areas of southwest Alaska, sea otter populations have dropped by 90 percent.The decline has prompted the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the species as threatened and designate thousands of miles as critical habitat.
Scientists say the most common cause of death they see is inflammation of the heart valve, but there are a whole host of other bacteria and viruses they find.
"As far as the numbers, sea otters are really the best sentinels as to what is going on. We can ship them to different parts of the state; they are very sensitive to a lot of different diseases, so they can pick it up," said Kathy Burek, Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services.
In 2008, a Fish and Wildlife Service study showed an increase in some otter populations. One of those populations is in homer.
http://www.ktuu.com/videobeta/5659ed90-fc35-470c-bf7c-80a2f8df2f6f/News/Scientists-trying-to-find-cause-of-declining-otter-population
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