Research Document - 2009/016

Recent trends in the abundance and distribution of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) in British Columbia

By L.M. Nichol, M.D. Boogaards, and R. Abernethy

Abstract

A total of 4,712 sea otters was counted in British Columbia in 2008 (4,110 on west coast Vancouver Island and 602 on the central B.C. coast) up from 3,185 in 2004.  The central B.C. coast was also surveyed in 2007 and 642 sea otters were counted. Along Vancouver Island the population increased at a rate of 15.0% year-1 from 1977 to 2008.  However, it is evident that growth was more rapid up to 1995 (1977 to 1995, 19.0% year-1) and slowed substantially thereafter to 8.4% year-1.  On the central B.C. coast the population increased at a rate 11.4% year-1 from 1990 and 2008.  Range expansion continues to contribute to population growth.  On the central B.C. coast, range expansion was evident to the southeast and to the north, notably Aristizabal Island.  On Vancouver Island expansion into inlet habitat in Esperanza Inlet occurred in 2008. 

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