Mammals Archives - Seattle Aquarium

Expert animal care at every age

Posted on March 26, 2024April 11, 2024 by Emma Leiser

This story is part of our series, The Doctor Is In—highlighting our veterinary team’s expertise in service of animal wellbeing.

Our highest priority is providing the best possible lives for the animals in our care—nearly 18,000 fish, invertebrates, birds and mammals with the opening of the Ocean Pavilion. At the forefront of this work are our veterinary, water quality and animal care teams, whose members monitor the health of the animals every day.

Director of Animal Health Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, MA VetMB MRCVS DiplAZCM DiplECZM, is the veterinarian in charge: performing routine observations, interpreting records with animal care staff, providing treatments for animals when needed, and undertaking physical examinations routinely and when concerns arise.

Not surprisingly, some of those issues of concern are related to aging. Geriatric* medicine has become a focus for animal care specialists at zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)—including yours truly—for the best possible reason: as we continue to learn and share information, animals are living longer and longer lives.

*The term “geriatric” refers to older individuals, whether human or another kind of animal. Just as elderly humans require specialized medical care, other elderly animals do as well.

Caring for aging animals at the Seattle Aquarium

Here at the Aquarium, we have a number of geriatric animals in our care. For instance, Barney the harbor seal turned 38 in 2023, reaching a biological age that’s about the equivalent of a 100-year-old human!

And, at age 22, Adaa the sea otter was the oldest sea otter living at an AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium in the U.S. at the time of his passing in 2022. He was also the oldest male sea otter on record in the AZA studbook.*

*What’s a studbook? It’s a document that keeps track of information such as age, significant events like births or deaths, parentage and taxonomy (or the science of classifying and naming organisms). Staff at zoos and aquariums like the Seattle Aquarium work with the AZA to maintain regional studbooks for a wide variety of species. This demographic history is an invaluable tool to help guide conservation projects.

Aging is a complex process that refers to changes in all the systems and functions of an animal’s body; however, aging develops at different rates in different species. Some species of Pacific salmon, for example, have a very brief life (chronologically), dying soon after a single spawning event when they are a few years old. Spotted lagoon jellies also have shorter life spans—just three to four months. Rockfish, on the other hand, may live for over a hundred years!

Evolving care over time

The goal of geriatric care is to maintain the best possible quality of life for the individual animal during a time when they would normally be vulnerable to predation or unable to source food for themselves in the wild. Geriatric care at AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, like ours, is respectful to each individual animal—for their life and its intrinsic value.

What that care involves differs by species and by individual. Our animal care staff work hard to create and maintain environments for aging animals that are safe and easy to use. This can be challenging for the variety of species living together in our larger habitats, such as the Window on Washington Waters and Underwater Dome. In those instances, Aquarium aquarists use their understanding of animal behavior and feeding preferences to provide the best environment possible.

How does care evolve over time for marine mammals at the Aquarium? As these species begin to reach—and exceed—their chronological life expectancy in the wild, animal care staff may begin to adjust how they work with them. For instance, as mammals age, their risk of contracting several age-related eye diseases (such as cataracts and macular degeneration) increases, just as it does in aging humans. If visual acuity (or keenness of perception) is reduced, the Aquarium’s animal care specialists introduce more verbal and tactile cues, such as gently brushing past their whiskers. Arthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) is also common in all mammals as they age. Just as it does for humans, management may include anti-inflammatories, joint supplements, diet modifications and adapting the environment to meet the mobility needs of the individual.

Providing the very best care and quality of life for the animals entrusted to us—at all stages of their lives—is a vital part of our mission, Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. Learn more about animals at the Aquarium on our website or, better yet, plan a visit with us soon!

She sees sea otters by the nearshore: Tracking sea otter populations with Dr. Shawn Larson

Posted on September 27, 2023June 17, 2024 by Emma Leiser

This story is part of our Nerdy Science Series—how we’re using research and technology in service of a healthy ocean.

Guests at the Seattle Aquarium know how fun it is to watch sea otters eat and play. But for sea otter researchers, watching these adorable animals on Washington’s outer coast also provides valuable scientific information. By keeping track of wild sea otter populations through regular surveys, Dr. Shawn Larson of the Seattle Aquarium and her team hope to better understand the important role otters play in the marine ecosystem and what the future might hold for them.

Searching for sea otters on Washington’s outer coast

Each June for the past 23 years, Seattle Aquarium researchers 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.

Shawn and other Seattle Aquarium staff assist by forming ground teams at specific locations along the coast to carefully count all the otters in an area. The team usually leaves bright and early to hike to the observation point, where they set up their spotting scopes and start looking for otters.

They also record information on the otters’ ages and behaviors. During the survey, a plane circles above large groups of otters—known as rafts—to take high-quality digital photographs. Researchers count the otters in these photos later.

The otters tend to float about a kilometer (a little over half a mile) from the shore in groups of up to 1,000. It can be hard, at that distance, to distinguish rafts from clumps of kelp floating nearby. But Shawn, a seasoned otter spotter, knows to look for heads and flippers. Otters also tend to appear black, while kelp looks dark brown.

The Seattle Aquarium also does surveys of the local population monthly, documenting their numbers and diets. Like us, otters have preferred foods. If they’re available, otters will go for sea urchins, crabs and clams. When those become scarce, otters will turn to snails, mussels and sea cucumbers. Shawn has even seen otters eat a giant Pacific octopus!

“Their diet starts to diversify…and that’s when we know that their population has pretty much reached its carrying capacity—meaning the limit for that area,” Shawn says.

Happily, the sea otters in Washington are doing well. Their population is steadily growing with an increase of about 10% each year. They’re growing large and raising many pups, suggesting that these days, there’s plenty of their favorite foods on the outer coast.

Scientists still have a lot of questions about sea otters

Despite decades of research, scientists are still uncovering new information about sea otters. We know that otters eat sea urchins that would otherwise consume kelp. So, where there are otters, there are usually also healthy kelp forests, which serve as habitats for an array of nearshore marine life. However, researchers seek a deeper understanding of how sea otters impact nearshore environments.

"They're kind of a mystery in a lot of ways. There's a lot we do know about them, but there's a lot we don’t."

Dr. Shawn Larson, senior conservation research manager, Seattle Aquarium

“We know that sea otters tend to structure the nearshore where they live, but exactly how does that work? What are the pieces of the puzzle that make it work?” Shawn says.

To unravel the mystery, the Aquarium is in the early stages of using a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, to study otter foraging behavior in kelp forests on the outer coast. By going underwater to where the action is, the ROV will provide in-depth footage and data on sea otter foraging behavior.

A better understanding of sea otters and kelp can’t come soon enough. Kelp is highly effective at sequestering carbon, which could help offset some effects of climate change.

"I hope that we continue to do this work for decades to come… The food sea otters are able to catch really will show how they are able to adapt or not to oceanic changes."

Dr. Shawn Larson, senior conservation research manager, Seattle Aquarium

Another question researchers are exploring is how sea otters will react to climate change.

With up to 1 million hairs per square inch, their dense coats keep them warm in the chilly waters of the Pacific. But otters have trouble expelling heat. Rising ocean temperatures could push them farther north. At the same time, otters tend to thrive in nearshore environments. Rising sea levels and melting sea ice could provide more habitat for them.

“We just don’t know. There could be dramatic negatives with climate change for sea otters and there could be dramatic positives,” Shawn says.

How to help sea otters in the wild

One thing we do know is that sea otters need a clean home. Trash that ends up in the sea can reach them via ocean currents. By properly disposing of trash, you can help keep the ocean clean for sea otters and other marine life.

Consider reducing plastic consumption and choosing reusable options when you can. Better yet, volunteer at a beach cleanup to remove plastic and other trash from our shores. You can even get your friends involved!

For more ways to help the ocean and all that depend on it (including humans!) check out our Act for the Ocean page.

Giant wrymouths, whitespotted boxfish and river otters: They’re just like us!

Posted on May 7, 2023February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

The Seattle Aquarium’s latest SEAlebrities are an interesting bunch. Some hide right before our eyes; others stand out in flashy colors. Then there are those that just love to play! Sounds like some people you know, right? Let’s meet them.

Giant wrymouths: mysterious and reclusive

There are four recognized species in the wrymouth family. At over 5½ feet in length, Cryptacanthodes giganteus is the largest. (Regular wrymouths grow to around 3 feet, dwarf wrymouths to 1 foot.) With their long, narrow bodies, giant wrymouths are easily mistaken for eels. The big clue? Pectoral fins, which are characteristic of fish and not eels.

Here are two ways they’re just like us!

They like a safe, cozy home.

Giant wrymouths build their homes in the northeast Pacific Ocean, from the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska to Humboldt Bay in California. They burrow into the soft ocean floor with just their heads peeking out—hiding in plain sight from hungry seals and sea lions.

They love snacks.

It is thought that giant wrymouths live most of their lives in the sand. Only tasty treats like crustaceans and invertebrates—or a special delivery by feeding pole, as shown in the photo taken at the Aquarium—can coax them out of their cozy burrows.

Meet Belle, a giant wrymouth in our care. Look for Belle in our Puget Sound Fish habitat on your next visit to the Aquarium!

Whitespotted boxfish: what a body!

Whitespotted boxfish, Ostracion meleagris, are found throughout the Pacific and Indian oceans, where they make their homes in reef ecosystems. Although small, growing to less than 10 inches, their busy patterns and vibrant colors attract a lot of attention. Luckily, they have two sneaky ways of remaining safe from predators.

Here are two ways they’re just like us!

They protect their core valuables.

The whitespotted boxfish wields some invisible survival tools. Their body is built on a frame made of thickened and fused scale plates—a kind of armor—that protects their internal organs and gives them their characteristic shape. If a predator gets too close, the whitespotted boxfish turns on the slime, secreting poisonous mucus to repel or kill them.

They dress to impress potential mates.

Female whitespotted boxfish are tastefully dressed in black with allover white spots. Males have the same spotted back, but their sides are adorned with flashy colors—vivid blue with bright yellow bands and spots, the fish version of a custom-made, multi-hued suit. After all, it’s showtime.

Look for our two SEAlebrity whitespotted boxfish, Polka and Dot, at the Seattle Aquarium in the Pacific Coral Reef habitat!

River otters: work hard, play hard, nap when needed.

Where there’s ample water, land and fish, chances are you’ll find North American river otters. Lontra canadensis thrive in both marine and freshwater habitats, frolicking in coastal estuaries, marshes and streams, as well as inland swamps, lowland marshes and small lakes. Although they can be shy with people, you might be surprised by what we have in common with these gregarious animals.

Here are two ways they’re just like us!

They like a good nap.

If you don’t see the river otters in our care at play, they’re probably napping in their den. Can you spot them? Depending on the time of year and where they live, river otters may be diurnal (more active during the daylight and less at night); nocturnal (more active at night and less during the day); or crepuscular—meaning most active at twilight! Regardless of when they keep busy, after hours of hunting, playing, building their dens and planning escape routes, a quick snooze is just the ticket.

Fun is having buddies to play with.

Otters like to socialize and when they get together it’s all about fun! Watching them speed through the water, slide down riverbanks and wrestle each other is very entertaining but this is not just play. The otters are learning and practicing survival skills that also build bonds among the group.

Don’t miss our SEAlebrity duo, Molalla and Ahanu, in the Aquarium’s river otter habitat!

The biggest threat to marine animals? Us.

You can make a difference for giant wrymouths, whitespotted boxfish and river otters. For them, there’s no hiding from trawling nets, diminishing habitats, climate change and plastic pollution. Whether or not they’re on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species™, human-caused impacts are a threat to their survival. Every animal in the ocean needs a healthy habitat to thrive—just like you do. Visit our Act for the Ocean page to learn what you can do to help preserve the health of our marine environment.

Field research becomes fur seal rescue on Washington’s outer coast

Posted on February 16, 2023February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

On a wet and windy day in January, a field research excursion that almost didn’t happen ended up being a life-saving experience for a young fur seal pup.

Seattle Aquarium Senior Conservation Research Manager Dr. Shawn Larson looked at the weather forecast—predicting high seas, rain and high winds—and almost called off the trip to Sand Point, a remote beach on the Olympic Peninsula. She and Seattle Aquarium Research Scientist for Clean Seas Veronica Padula had planned to meet a team from the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Curator of Marine Mammals Brittany Blades and Senior Mammologist Ashley Griffin-Stence, to observe sea otters as a training exercise and part of our ongoing research on the species.

But Brittany and Ashley were already on their way, so Shawn and Veronica headed out with their heavy rain gear. The group met at the trailhead, hiked three miles to the beach and, despite the weather and a very high tide, were rewarded with the sight of many sea otters in the water offshore, including mothers and pups.

“You could tell something was wrong.”

Suddenly, all four women noticed a cry of distress and started searching the water for a sea otter pup in need of its mom. Then they realized that the sound was actually coming from the beach behind them. They turned, followed the cries and discovered a young northern fur seal pup.

“In my 22 years of doing this work, I’ve never seen a northern fur seal pup on the beach,” says Shawn. Adds Veronica, “You could tell that something was wrong with it. It looked like it was struggling somehow.”

When they got closer, the group realized that the pup was entangled, with material wrapped tightly around its neck. They knew what to do: call the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

Typically, when a marine mammal is reported stranded or injured, a Network partner responds to assess the animal and determine the best course of action. But given the remote location, it would have taken responders many hours to arrive on scene—and, in a very happy stroke of luck, all four women are marine mammal biologists with specific experience handling and rehabilitating entangled fur seals.

“This time of year, no one goes down there,” says Shawn. “No one else would have known what to do in that situation.”

Springing into action

Shawn, with a single bar of service on her phone, managed to complete the call and was given authorization from NOAA officials to disentangle the pup. Using a pair of scissors from her first aid kit, she swiftly cut the material—a loop of elastic, similar to what you’d find in a garden glove, stretched to its limit around the animal’s neck—while Brittany and Ashley secured its body.

“If we hadn’t been able to remove the elastic, the animal likely would have died,” says Shawn. “He was already starting to look a little lean, an indication that he wasn’t able to eat well, and the material could have also restricted his breathing.”

Once freed, the pup quickly made his way to the water—where, we hope, he will live a long and happy life.

Northern fur seals, listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, spend the majority of their lives at sea, coming ashore only for the summer breeding season on islands in the icy waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea—or in other, more southerly locations if they’re injured or ill. Interested in learning more about them? Check out our webpage or, better yet, come visit northern fur seals Chiidax and Flaherty at the Seattle Aquarium!

Saying goodbye to elderly Adaa

Posted on February 28, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

We are sad to announce the passing of Adaa, the male northern sea otter under our care, from cancer. The disease was diagnosed in mid-February and considered terminal. Adaa was treated with medications to manage his symptoms and provide him with a good quality of life for the time he had left. The staff had hoped this would give him several weeks, but his condition recently deteriorated and he was humanely euthanized on Sunday, February 27.

This beloved animal was the oldest male sea otter at zoos and aquariums in the U.S., and he became the oldest male sea otter on record in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) “studbook” when he reached 22 years and 2 months old. (On average, sea otters in the wild live 15–20 years.) An AZA studbook dynamically documents the entire demographic history of each individual of a species—this is an invaluable tool to help us understand how individuals and groups are doing and allows us to provide the best standard of care.

Curator of Birds and Mammals Julie Carpenter describes Adaa as “a beautiful animal with a gentle way about him. He had his quirks, such as hopping with his rear flippers when on land instead of walking and making soft cooing sounds while chewing.”

Adaa, which means “come ashore” in the Aleut language, was approximately 4 months old when he was found on an airport runway at Port Heiden, Alaska, in January 2000. Julie explained this about his age: “While we don’t know Adaa’s exact date of birth, we have a very close estimate. As pups, sea otters have unique pelage [the fur covering of a mammal] and pup teeth that change as they grow. The stage of pelage and teeth growth, in addition to size and time of year, allows us to accurately estimate the age of the pup within a couple of months—sometimes even weeks or days—of birth.” At the time of his passing, Adaa was approximately 22 years and 8 months of age.

Adaa then lived at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon, until April 2004, when he was transferred to the Seattle Aquarium. In 2012, Adaa was temporarily moved to the Oregon Zoo following the birth of his daughter, Sekiu, to allow mother (Aniak) and daughter space to bond without the presence of a male. In the wild, females with pups are often found in rafts without males. Once Sekiu was older and weaned, Adaa returned to Seattle Aquarium.

“He was a gentle male and was always amazing with the females,” says Julie. “In his older years he was often seen holding onto Mishka, a younger female, while he slept and was even seen grooming her.”

Adaa had some favorite enrichment activities, like playing with or crunching on ice and solving puzzle feeders. He will be dearly missed by the staff and volunteers at the Aquarium and by the many in-person and live-webcam visitors who enjoyed his company.

“Adaa had an enormous amount of trust in the people who cared for him,” says Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, “particularly the animal care professionals who worked most closely with him. It was always inspiring to see that relationship. It allowed us to work together to provide the care he needed as he got older.”

Expert care for hundreds of species and thousands of animals

Posted on September 7, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

The Seattle Aquarium is home to nearly 400 species and over 12,000 individual mammals, birds fish and invertebrates. And, just like humans, these species have their own distinct care needs that change as they age. “All animals at the Aquarium have care plans that are customized to their species and the needs of the individuals or groups,” says Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, MA VetMB DAZCM DECZM.

Being responsible for so many species and individuals means that animal care at the Seattle Aquarium is a team effort. Our veterinary and husbandry staff monitor the health of the animals every day and work together to provide the best life possible for them. “That’s the essence of good animal welfare,” notes Dr. Hadfield.

What’s it like being the doctor in charge for so many mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates? “It’s a mixture of routine preventative care—like wellness exams and environmental quality assessments—and reactive care, where we respond to changes we’ve seen in the animals or their environment,” says Dr. Hadfield. “With so many animals, we rely heavily on our professional staff and animal records to identify anything of concern, then work together to understand the situation and identify the best solution if needed. Because of the variety of species, I often reach out to colleagues with different fields of expertise so that, together, we can provide a great quality of care.”

Long (long!) lives

Here’s a fast fact: The average life span of a male Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina) in the wild is 26 years¹. Longtime Seattle Aquarium favorite Barney is now 36 years old, well above the average in the wild population. “Like any elderly animal, including us humans, he has some health issues, but is enjoying life,” says Dr. Hadfield.

Barney is just one example of how animals in human care at zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), including the Seattle Aquarium, tend to live significantly longer lives than those in the wild. “Over the Aquarium’s history, lessons learned and the application of new, innovative technologies designed for animal care have enabled our team to provide a good quality of life well beyond the expected life span for their counterparts in the wild,” notes Director of Life Sciences Grant Abel.

Speaking of Barney…where did he come from?

Visitors often ask about the origins of the Aquarium’s birds and mammals (and not in the “birds and bees” way!). Barney was born right here, in 1985—as was sea otter Aniak, in 2002. In fact, every marine mammal and bird in our care was either born in a zoo or aquarium, like Barney and Aniak, or rescued and deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service, like sea otters Adaa and Mishka. Rescued animals that are deemed non-releasable either have a health issue or stranded too young to be able to survive in the wild.

Stay tuned for our upcoming blog posts for details about how we care for aging animals, as well as the AZA species survival plans for maintaining healthy, genetically diverse populations of animals within accredited zoos and aquariums.

Lastly, another fast fact: The Seattle Aquarium was first accredited by the AZA in 1979 and, like all accredited members, is subject to a thorough on-site inspection every five years to renew that accreditation.

¹ https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phoca_vitulina/#A79C1289-12A8-441B-8408-D30C2A18F1BE

Saying farewell to harbor seal Q

Posted on June 23, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of Q, one of our beloved harbor seals, at the age of 22.

Q started showing some health issues in March of this year. X-rays at the time showed a mass inside his chest. “Diagnostic tests suggested that the most likely cause was a cancer known as lymphoma,” says Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, senior veterinarian at the Seattle Aquarium. “This is seen commonly in dogs, although there are very few reports of it in harbor seals and they were all found at postmortem exams (necropsies). For Q, we could not be sure of the diagnosis without taking samples of the mass inside his chest, but he was started on treatment based on this most-likely diagnosis, and he responded rapidly.”

However, this type of cancer is incurable; treatment is really good at shrinking the cancer for a while, and Q did great for two months, but remission is always temporary with this disease. “He showed a decline again in late May,” says Dr. Hadfield, “which looked to be due to recurrence of the cancer, and he was started on a rescue treatment to try to get him feeling better.” This type of rescue is rarely successful in dogs, but we are happy to report that Q got back to his usual self for an additional three weeks.

We closely monitor how all the animals are doing, and our teams work tirelessly to give them the best quality of life we can for as long as they are in our care; this includes giving them a peaceful passing when we know that they cannot live their full lives again. Q’s care team recently saw signs that his last-line treatment was no longer working, and he was humanely euthanized on June 23, 2021.

The Seattle Aquarium also recently lost sea otter Aniak, who passed away at age 19 last week. “The Aquarium is fortunate to provide a home for some amazingly long-lived animals, and we’re extremely proud of the care they receive with us,” comments Curator of Birds & Mammals Julie Carpenter. “It’s always hard to say goodbye to one when their time comes.”

Our other elderly mammals, including 35-year-old harbor seal Barney and 21-year-old sea otter Adaa (currently the oldest sea otter in the U.S.), continue to do well.

"Q was our go-to animal for new staff to learn feeding and training as he was incredibly patient and gentle. His laid-back personality and eagerness to participate in so many health care and husbandry trained behaviors made him a very unique harbor seal that the entire Bird and Mammal Team will miss greatly."

Kelli Lee, animal care specialist for the Aquarium’s Bird and Mammal team

Q was born at Sea World San Diego and brought to the Seattle Aquarium in 2002. Over the course of his time in the Pacific Northwest, he was a wonderful ambassador for the Seattle Aquarium, including participating in a harbor seal breeding exchange with the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) in 2012. It was a successful exchange, with Q becoming the dad of Saya and Hogan (who currently resides at our Aquarium) with harbor seals Qilak and Shila, respectively, from PDZA.

“We will continue to learn a lot from Q and hope that we can use this information to help with diagnosis and treatment of this disease in other seals,” explains Dr. Hadfield. “He will be missed—and his impact will live on.”

In the wild, harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) spend equal time on land as at sea, and they’re inquisitive, though sometimes elusive. They have a thick layer of blubber, which stores energy, makes them buoyant, and influences their streamlined shape. Male harbor seals are often 4–6 feet long and weigh between 150 and 375 pounds, and Q was no exception, with his weight ranging between 180 and 240 pounds. (Pinnipeds—including both harbor seals and northern fur seals—show a wide range in weight across the year as part of their normal annual cycle.)

Harbor seals are a common sight around inland marine waters like Puget Sound. You’ve likely seen them in the water when you walked along the shore or rode a ferry, and they often sit on top of buoys or piers—like around Elliott Bay, where the Aquarium is located. They also live in coastal waters and estuaries.

Q was a beloved fixture at the Aquarium, and he will be missed greatly by all. His legacy of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment will live on in Saya and Hogan and through all those who knew him and enjoyed watching him in his habitat or on our live webcams.

We invite you to learn more about harbor seals by visiting the Aquarium in person or our website’s fact sheet, and you can view Hogan and Barney in their habitat via our live webcams.

A tribute to Aniak the sea otter

Posted on June 18, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of Aniak, one of our beloved sea otters. Aniak was a 19-year-old female born here at the Seattle Aquarium to Lootas, our former sea otter matriarch. Aniak became a mother during her time at the Aquarium, giving birth to a male named Chugach in 2005, who moved to Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, and a female named Sekiu in 2012, who now lives at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

At 19, Aniak was an elderly sea otter. She had been dealing with chronic skin issues for six years, and while she continued to do all the normal sea otter things, it had been a delicate balance to maintain her comfort while also minimizing side effects from the medications needed to reduce her symptoms. Working with other sea otter veterinarians and dermatologists, we continued to adapt her care in the face of this chronic issue. In spite of the care provided, her health swiftly declined this week and the decision was made to humanely euthanize her early this morning.

This brings up the good question of how we know it’s time to provide humane euthanasia. “If an animal is in pain or distress that cannot be relieved, that decision is obvious and it is a great privilege as a veterinarian to be able to relieve suffering and provide an animal with a peaceful passing,” comments Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield. “However, just as with your dog or cat, that decision is harder with chronic relaxing-remitting health issues,” she continues. We want to give all the animals at the Aquarium the opportunity to live their best lives. To help with that, every animal at the Aquarium has regular welfare assessments to identify any opportunities to improve their well-being.

When an animal has a serious health condition or is past their expected life span, we use very frequent assessments that are tailored to that animal’s needs. For example, for a tufted puffin with arthritis, we may evaluate how well they are moving around on land and how much they explore their environment. We use these and other metrics as a base to talk about their quality of life, prognosis and the options available to us. For Aniak, we reached a point this morning where the best decision for her was humane euthanasia.

Aniak was a wonderful ambassador for her species. In addition to being absolutely adorable, sea otters are a vital part of our ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest. They feast on sea urchins, which prevents that population from eating all the kelp, which in turn offers habitat and protection to many species in our waters. Since sea otters need to eat around 25% of their body weight every day, that adds up to a lot of sea urchins, shellfish, squid, fish, crabs and shrimp.
There are around 2,800 sea otters living off the Washington coast; this is thanks to population recovery efforts after they were hunted nearly to extinction at the turn of the 19th century for their amazingly thick fur—anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million hairs per square inch, the densest fur on Earth! All that hair keeps sea otters from needing a layer of blubber to keep warm, but they do have to regularly groom their fur and blow air into it to maintain its incredible insulating qualities.

The Bird and Mammal team’s expert and diligent attention, along with the amazing veterinary care provided by Dr. Hadfield, allowed us to give Aniak the best life possible. She inspired not only our staff and volunteers but also countless people who visited her in person or watched her on our webcams. She was gentle, yet spirited, and a devoted mother, and will be dearly missed by our staff, volunteers and visitors.

We invite you to learn more about sea otters by visiting their fact sheet on our website and seeing them in person during your next visit to the Aquarium. You can also watch our sea otters in real time in their habitat via our live webcams.

Reducing oil spill risk to protect otters, orcas and more

Posted on May 5, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

Fossil fuels pose a huge risk to the health of our oceans. When we burn fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas, more carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere. As the ocean absorbs some of these emissions, the chemistry of the seawater changes. Ocean waters that are more acidic dissolve shells and coral skeletons and make it hard for animals to form new shells. These changes, along with ocean warming and other climate change impacts, harm marine ecosystems and the people who rely on them for their food, livelihoods and well-being.

The transportation of fossil fuels and the accompanying potential for oil spills threaten the waters of the Salish Sea every day. There are proposed projects that would further increase oil handling in Washington state, along with the chance of devastating oil spills from trains, tankers and barges. In a 2019 count by Friends of the San Juans, there were 25 proposed new, expanding or recently completed terminal and refinery projects, which would add 4,232 more vessel transits every year to and from ports in Washington state and British Columbia.

Some types of oil are light and float on saltwater, spreading out very rapidly and making the oil easily accessible to seabirds and mammals at the water’s surface. Other kinds of oils are heavy and sink, causing problems for fish and organisms on the seafloor. Animals are hurt when they inhale oil as they surface to breathe or swallow oil as they try to clean themselves. When birds’ feathers or mammals’ fur get coated in oil, it also undermines their insulation, making it difficult for them to maintain the right body temperature. Oil and gas transport in marine waterways is listed among the primary threats to the sea otter population. And it is estimated that an oil spill of 2,000,000–4,000,000 gallons may kill up to half of the remaining endangered southern resident orcas (1).

Many Seattle Aquarium staff have the federal and local training required to safely handle and care for wild marine animals in the event of an oil spill. Three of our staff are also trainers and provide annual Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER-24) classes in the region with a focus on oiled wildlife response.

But we must do more than prepare for the eventuality of a catastrophic oil spill in the Salish Sea. Fossil fuels must be phased out to protect the health of our ocean and the marine species that call it home. The Seattle Aquarium has begun engaging with partners in the Stand Up to Oil coalition, a group of organizations committed to protecting Pacific Northwest communities from the health, safety and environmental threats of oil infrastructure and transport.

Over the last few months, we have raised our voice to oppose new fossil fuel infrastructure in Washington state and ensure that oil spill risks to endangered species are explicitly considered in project-approval processes. These efforts have included:

Opposing the Kalama methanol refinery: We joined many other organizations and communities in urging the Washington Department of Ecology to deny a proposal to build and operate a methanol refinery along the Columbia River in Kalama, Washington. The project would have resulted in significant greenhouse gas emissions for the next 40 years at all points in the process—from fracking and piping the gas to its conversion to liquid methanol and then to plastics or fuel, and then the burning of that fuel. In a huge win for the health of our ocean and climate, the Department of Ecology rejected this proposal in January 2021.
Ensuring better planning for oil spill risk: We have asked the Department of Ecology to require updates to oil spill contingency plans to better reduce the risk of oil spills to the endangered orcas.
Expressing concerns about oil terminal expansion: There is a proposal to expand the SeaPort Sound bulk oil terminal. We asked the City of Tacoma to closely examine potential harm to the sensitive intertidal and marine ecosystems of the Salish Sea.
Preparing for new rules for fossil fuels: This summer, the Washington Department of Ecology will develop rules for evaluating any new fossil fuel project proposals. This is an opportunity to ensure the Department of Ecology applies the best available science and social equity considerations in future permitting decisions. Be on the lookout for an upcoming action alert to help hold coal, oil and gas projects accountable for the air pollution they create.

We invite you to join the Seattle Aquarium in speaking up for the health of our ocean and climate! Get breaking news and urgent action alerts by subscribing to our policy email list.

(1) Lacy, R.C., Williams, R., Ashe, E. et al. Evaluating anthropogenic threats to endangered killer whales to inform effective recovery plans. Sci Rep 7, 14119 (2017).

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