PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — You otter not miss celebrating this beloved marine mammal at the Oregon Zoo next week.
Sea Otter Awareness Week, which takes place annually throughout the last week of September, aims to bring attention to sea otters and their role in the North Pacific ecosystem.
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The week will begin with conservationists from the Elakha Alliance discussing current efforts to reintroduce sea otter populations to Oregon.
Then from Sept. 23-27, zoo guests are invited to partake in otter-themed games, as well as watch their resident sea otters, Juno, Lincoln and Uni Sushi participate in training sessions.
According to the zoo, all three are rescue sea otters who were orphaned as pups off the coast of California.
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Sea otter populations have not been seen along the Oregon coast since they were hunted to extinction for their fur in the early 20th century. However, volunteers from the Elakha Alliance did spot two sea otters swimming and foraging in the waters near Cannon Beach at the end of June.