Their charming features are unparalleled, from their expressions to their use of tools. Held every year during the last week in September, Sea Otter Awareness Week spotlights the important role of sea otters in … Ever wondered why these adorable bundles of joy actually bang things? Photo: Sea Otter Using Rock Anvil by Jessica Fujii from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo collection. Its various extant subspecies, numbering a total of 13, can be found on almost every continent (it’s too cold in Antarctica, apparently), and come in a range of shapes and sizes, and levels of ferocity. A loud, staccato "hah" noise, somewhat like a dog's bark, is used to alert other otters to danger. They seem to get along quite well with each other and to have a good time. Sea otters are excellent parents, friends to their ecosystems, and just generally adorable, so why anyone would want to shoot one is rather confounding. Every single day I receive questions like: “Where can I buy an otter?” or "Do you breed otters so I can have one as a pet?" That's an amazing amount of food. Otters are very chatty, so when you are around a large group of them it can sound chaotic. Otters are some of the most adorable aquatic animals. Why is the sea otter endangered? The humble, or not so humble, otter is one of the most widespread mammals on Earth. In fact, by the 1920s, the sea otter was at the brink of extinction — it was even thought to be extinct for a time. They are also extremely intelligent creatures which is why so many researchers have studies their communication. Sea otters need to eat 25-30% of their body weight each day. They’re using the rocks as anvils: a hard surface to hammer hard-shelled prey on to open them. Then, in the 1700s and 1800s, hunters and fur traders killed so many that the population was devastated. The sea otter, Enhydra lutris, is a member of the Mustelidae that is fully aquatic. The sea otter once ranged from Baja California to the Pacific Northwest to Russia and Japan. I can go on for hours about telling you the reasons why otters aren't pets. Tasmanian devils scream and growl when they are fighting with another Tasmanian devil over food or territory. Why do Tasmanian devils scream? Find out in under a minute thanks to the Vancouver Aquarium. River otters rely more on their hearing than sense of smell when avoiding predators on land. Seattle Aquarium staff help explain why sea otters consume this many calories. These otters are capable of producing a scream so loud it can be heard almost a mile away. I'll try to give an explanation up here that will be make things clear. River otters may scream when threatened. Sea otters are the smallest of the marine mammals, but they are also the most dexterous.Sea otters are known for their ability to use stones as anvils or hammers to facilitate access to hard-to-reach prey items.