Skip to main content
Access to this video is a benefit for members through PBS Passport.

Up Next

Episode 5: The Calling

The Calling

Season 4 Episode 5
53:05
When Whales Could Walk

When Whales Could Walk

Season 51 Episode 1
53:31
Back to Show
Changing Seas

California Sea Otters: Life on the Edge

Season 16 Episode 1604

Adored by many for its cuddly appearance, the threatened southern sea otter is a voracious predator that needs to eat the equivalent of 25% of its body weight a day to survive. Once nearly hunted to extinction, this endearing marine weasel has made a slow comeback on California’s central coast, demonstrating its role as an ecosystem engineer in the process.

Sign up now for inspiring and thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox.
Support Provided By
Season
Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep
Unlock with PBS Passport
26:47
The deep-sea submersible Alvin brings explorers to extraordinary places.
At the Water’s Edge: The Salt Marsh
Unlock with PBS Passport
26:42
Scientists study salt marshes along scenic coastlines in the South.
Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation
26:42
Scientists team up with anglers to study the survival rates of the fish.
American Samoa’s Resilient Coral Reefs
Unlock with PBS Passport
26:53
Scientists study what makes certain corals more resilient than others.
Peru’s Desert Penguins
Unlock with PBS Passport
26:42
Scientists monitor penguin populations and study the animals’ interaction.
A Decade after Deepwater
Unlock with PBS Passport
26:42
Scientists study the devastating impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster.
Florida’s Blue Holes: Oases in the Sea
Unlock with PBS Passport
26:42
Scientists set out to uncover the mysteries of blue holes.
Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song
Unlock with PBS Passport
26:42
Experts study the purpose of a male humpback whale's song.
Corals in Crisis
Unlock with PBS Passport
26:42
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is devastating Florida’s fragile coral reef.
Toxic Waters
Unlock with PBS Passport
26:47
Scientists work to understand what causes toxic algal blooms.
The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure
26:42
Discover the Cordell Bank, a magical underwater island few people have ever heard of.
Fishing the Flats for Science
Unlock with PBS Passport
26:42
Scientists study tarpon, bonefish and permit to better understand their behaviors.
Active loading indicator