Read Part Two of Article B on sea otters. Human Impact

The greatest threats to sea otters are human related. Competition for food and man-made pollution have decreased sea otter populations in the Pacific Ocean.

Although they are small creatures, sea otters are so active that they need to eat between 20 and 30 per cent of their body weight each day! Sea otters eat shellfish, like mussels, crabs, clams, and sea urchins. Humans also enjoy eating these same foods. This means that sea otters often come into contact with human fishermen. This can lead to sea otters becoming entangled in the fishing nets, causing them to drown. Sea otters are also having more trouble finding the food they need to survive and are traveling farther to find it. This has led to sea otters coming into contact with other predators more often.

Man-made pollution also harms sea otters. Toxins used in human industries are often released into the ocean. This water run-off can also carry disease-causing parasites. These parasites can cause death in sea otters. Scientists have reported extremely high levels of man-made chemicals in the sea otters they study. They estimate that up to 40 percent of sea otter deaths are caused by water pollution.

Oil spills from off-shore drilling and shipping are also an immense threat to sea otters. Sea otters are dependent on their thick fur to keep them warm. Its unique structure traps air that insulates their bodies from the cold water. When an otter's fur is covered in oil, it can no longer keep the otter warm. This can cause hypothermia and even death. If the otter tries to clean its fur, it will ingest the oil, which is poisonous. In 1989, the Exxon Valdez hit a reef in Alaska. The ship spilled over ten million gallons of oil into the ocean. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service believes that anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000 otters died due to this oil spill.

What can be done?

There are laws that protect sea otters from being hunted for their fur now. However, there is more to be done. People can continue to demand that the government increase protection against oil spills in the ocean. They can also ask for stricter fishing laws that protect the sea otters. Keeping the oceans clean will also help sea otters. We all need to do our part to protect these special creatures!

How does the author's point of view that humans are the biggest threat to sea otters affect the type of details included in the article?

The author explains that human pollution is the only way that humans are affecting the sea otters' habitat.
The author gives many examples of how human behavior is threatening the sea otters' habitat.
The author includes facts about humans building homes close to the water and endangering the sea otters' habitat.
The author describes the laws that humans have passed to help restore the sea otter population.