The Elakha Alliance, an Oregon nonprofit working to restore sea otters to the Oregon Coast, invites the public to celebrate Sea Otter Awareness Month this September, culminating in Sea Otter Awareness Week (SOAW), September 20–26, 2026.
While sea otters are not currently found along the Oregon Coast, the month-long celebration looks toward a future when these keystone marine mammals could once again call Oregon home. Events will give Oregonians opportunities to learn about sea otters, their role in healthy coastal ecosystems, and efforts to bring them back.
SOAW is facilitated by a coalition including Sea Otter Savvy, Defenders of Wildlife, Monterey Bay Aquarium, California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Elakha Alliance. In Oregon, the Elakha…