Everyone loves to look at sea otters, with their fuzzy faces and adorable paws. Now, the Seattle Aquarium is looking at Washington’s wild otters from a whole new perspective to help advance conservation.
Aquarium scientists recently began using a small drone to help with monitoring sea otters on Washington’s outer coast. Our researchers hope that this project will—literally—give us a new perspective on otter populations, foraging habits, geographic range and more.
The project officially took flight this year, making us the first known organization in Washington to use drones for this purpose.
Research scientist Amy Olson will pilot the drone and capture images of sea otters on Washington’s outer coast.
A storied history of sea otter research
Washington’s wild sea otter population is descended from approximately 10–40 otters who were relocated to the area from Alaska in 1969 and 1970.
"It’s important for us to keep track of Washington’s sea otter population, especially because they’re starting to creep into areas where they have a higher chance of interacting with people. Right now, they’re mostly in remote areas. As they come further south, there's more of a chance of a human-wildlife interaction."
Since 2001, Seattle Aquarium scientists have participated in a statewide, multiday survey of the Washington sea otter population, organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Researchers stationed on land use spotting scopes and binoculars to count otters and take notes about age and behavior. Meanwhile, a plane circles above large groups of otters to take high-quality digital photographs that researchers will count afterward.
For over 16 years, Seattle Aquarium scientists have also taken monthly trips out to the outer coast of the Olympic Peninsula to study sea otter foraging behavior. Knowing what the otters are eating, how diverse their diets are and how much competition there is for food helps us understand how close the otter population is to reaching carrying capacity, or the limit of the numbers of otters that area can sustain.
We’ve learned a lot about sea otters in the past few decades. The population is growing at a rate of about 8-9% per year and does not seem to be near carrying capacity. But there’s still much more to learn about this charismatic keystone species.
A raft of sea otters as seen by the research drone off the coast of the Olympic Peninsula.
A new perspective on sea otters
Senior Conservation Research Manager Dr. Shawn Larson first brought up the idea of using a drone to monitor sea otter populations over 10 years ago.
"I've been watching sea otters on the outer coast for 25 years now, and this is the first time we've been able to employ new technology … We're going to be out there geeking out gathering more precise data on how many otters are in a certain area. And we will also enjoy watching sea otters using the old school method of binoculars and spotting scopes. We'll do both."
Research Scientist Amy Olsen obtained her FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate to safely pilot the drone six years ago in anticipation of the project. The first otter observation flight took place in May 2026.
Much of the aerial observation work will take place in protected locations, including a national park, national marine sanctuary and areas owned by the Quinault Indian Nation. These areas all have specific rules designed to protect the local ecosystem. Not just anyone can fly a drone over these spaces. This led to a years-long permitting process.
The cost of the drone also proved to be logistical hurdle. Because the drone will fly over federally owned areas, it needs to be American made. That increased the price significantly, though two grants from the Sea Otter Foundation & Trust helped cover the cost.
Now that everything is in place, Shawn, Amy and the rest of the team can get to work. The drone will be employed during monthly trips to get a more accurate number of otters in the local area and potentially even to study otter foraging behavior. The drone can get closer to otters than onshore observers or low flying planes, while maintaining safe distances from the animals making sure they are not disturbed. The team hopes to get a more accurate count of the otter population in the areas where we can fly the drone. The drone is also equipped with a thermal camera, which can provide even more data on the otters.
The drone can also capture thermal images of otters, which can make counting otters easier.
Historically, otter researchers have had to hike to remote, elevated locations to get a good view of the hard-to-spot otters. From far away, it’s difficult to distinguish otters from seaweed or keep track of individuals when waves swell.
With the help of the drone, researchers expect to view otters in even more remote places on Washington’s rugged outer coast, giving us a better understanding of how this population is doing over 50 years after its reintroduction to the area.
Lending a paw to help sea otters
The use of drones in research marks an exciting new chapter for those who study Washington’s sea otters. This is still a relatively new practice, even in states like California where it’s been going on for some time.
Shawn and Amy reached out to other otter researchers about their experience flying drones to monitor otter populations. Amy said she was looking forward to publishing her team’s findings to help inform future conservation work.
The drone project can also work in tandem with the Aquarium’s other research projects, particularly those focused on kelp forests, which otters play a significant role in maintaining.
Shawn compared the use of drones and airplanes in sea otter monitoring to remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) working with divers to study kelp forests. Like ROVs, drones are relatively small and simple to deploy. And all of these are tools that help us understand the complexities and dynamics of Washington’s nearshore ecosystems.
With challenges like climate change and sea otters moving into more human-populated areas, it remains vitally important for the Aquarium to continue monitoring Washington’s otters. When you visit the Aquarium, you are supporting sea otter conservation and so much more. That’s something we otter celebrate!
No drone of your own? No problem! See otters up close at the Seattle Aquarium—all while supporting their conservation.
