How Do Sea Otters Stay Warm and Clean?

Sea otters like Olly have some amazing adaptations that help them stay warm and clean in the cold ocean waters. Let’s learn how they do it!

Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal, with up to one million hairs per square inch. This thick fur traps air close to their skin, creating a warm, insulating layer. Olly spends a lot of time grooming his fur to keep it clean and fluffy. This grooming helps maintain the insulation and keeps him warm even in chilly waters.

Another way sea otters stay warm is by eating a lot of food. Their high metabolism helps generate body heat. Olly needs to eat about 25% of his body weight every day to stay warm and active.

Fun Fact: Sea otters can spend up to five hours a day grooming their fur to keep it in top condition.

In our next post, we’ll meet some of Olly’s friends and learn about their relationships in the ocean!