The Value of Rescuing, Treating, and Releasing Live-Stranded Sea Otters

Since 1984, personnel within the Sea Otter Research and Conservation program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium have wrestled with the ethical and practical aspects of managing live-stranded sea otters. During that time, the practice of rescuing, treating, and releasing live-stranded sea otters has evolved into a sophisticated research and conservation endeavor. Unlike early efforts that sought to keep stranded sea otters alive and place them into permanent zoo or aquarium homes, recent trends have focused on conducting research with live-stranded otters, contributing to a broad range of sea otter conservation projects, and releasing healthy, capable sea otters into the wild population. New techniques for rearing live-stranded sea otter pups using non-releasable adult females as surrogate mothers have shown significant promise and have helped the program identify new ways to support sea otter conservation efforts. Operating a live-stranding program has allowed program personnel to continue advancing sea otter care and husbandry techniques. This chapter addresses the context for determining the value of rescuing, treating, and releasing sea otters, and offers guidance to other wildlife care and rehabilitation programs that aspire toward responsible, meaningful wildlife-care practices.