As the top predator in England's rivers and lakes, the BBC reports, otters are an indicator species whose health reveals much about the well-being of the entire aquatic ecosystem. The use of pesticides was greatly increased during the 1950s, particularly aldrin and dieldrin. Scientists are concerned about the deformed sex organs of England's otters — and what it might mean for humans. Humans are the biggest threat to sea otter populations. The pests can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh up to 30 pounds. Even those individuals that don’t have a desire to kill Otters have contributed to it in a variety of ways. However, the tar-pit otter may have a silver lining in the cloud as some contaminants, like strontium, iron, and retene, have been associated with stronger baculum. ... brought many of these people together with the goal of reimagining the relationship between humans and sea otters. Their reasoning was that it would result in more fish remaining in the water for them to capture in their nets. Humans and the prodigal otters found new spaces for life; the Dead Chicken River of the 1960s had been transformed into a lutrine playground. Taking over the natural habitat of the Otters is also a problem. When mining and deforestation occur in an area, the otters can be directly affected because the river banks they live on and depend on can be badly destroyed. While the development of new things for humans is nice, it doesn’t erase the harm that is being done these animals. Otters and Humans Relationship. You can lobby to your government entities for even more to be done. 20 Threats to sea otter - Solutions that we must reduce and erase because of the importance of sea otter toward the marine ecosystem balance. As the desire for that fashion trend waned, people stopped killing so many of them. But the partnership between man and otter is on the verge of extinction. As a result more people are taking up the cause of protecting these animals. Of all the species to impact the sea otter, humans have likely done the most harm due to the species. Watersports have also added to the disturbance of waterways. Experts also warn the compounds could affect human men as well. Otters in Culture The stories surrounding the … The sea otter ecosystem is largely made up of thick kelp forests. The main reasons for the dramatic reduction in the number of otters has been disturbance and pollution. Many though that the future for the Otter would be safe at that point. This success is due to better pollution control in our waterways and increased protection for this beautiful animal. Since Otters don’t pose a threat to humans there is no reason for such destruction to continue. In 2011 it was declared that the otter was again present in all of England's counties - a massive success as they had become very rare indeed. Human-Otter Conflict In Asia, the human-otter conflict exists, largely due to aquaculture activities, where aquaculturists and fishermen cull otters. SINGAPORE: In 2017, when an otter bit a French girl in Gardens by the Bay, many observers attributed the accident to defensive behaviour as humans got too close to a wild animal. There are also conservation groups and animal rights groups out there that strive to protect them and to help them increase in numbers. Fishing is usually done at night, and the otters can help fishermen catch as many as 26 pounds of fish, crabs and shrimp. Otters have a link to humans. Since the 1950s riverside habitats have been drastically changed by farming and building techniques in addition to clearing for drainage. The Otters would be injured or killed in them. Otters are mainly nocturnal and hunt in open, marshy places, rivers, lakes, seashores and estuaries. Other indirect impacts are also likely to harm them. But you can bank on the fact that there is an otter somewhere in a river near you if you live in Britain - a remarkable success story for a species driven to extinction in many parts of the country just decades ago. Otters are often elusive, with large ranges and nocturnal behaviour making spotting them a rare and wonderful experience. Although humans are typically exposed through eating undercooked meat, increases in sea otter exposure to Toxoplasma underscore our own risk of infection through ingesting oocysts from environmental sources. After all they were only in it for the money and now it was making them very little per Otter pelt that they provided. Within these forests, sea otters prey on sea urchins, which graze heavily on kelp. There is still hope that one day humans and Otters will be able to live in harmony. For that to occur though humans need to accept responsibility for what they have done over the course of time. 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