Sea otters start mating at the age of 3 and continue mating every year until the age of 16. Mating rituals are performed in the water. During mating the male hold the females chest and bites her nose, giving her the nickname rudolph after mating.

female after mating: http://library.thinkquest.org/J0111704/reproduction/reproduction.html

Females mate once a year, however, some females only mate with one male while others will chose up to three different partners during mating season. The gestation period is about seven months. The female will leave the otter group to have her pup. The birth takes place in the water.

sea otter mom with pup: http://stealthispicture.com/images/sea-otter/sea-otter-mom-pup-2485x1657-4072.jpg

The mother carried the pup on her stomach and spends most of her time grooming and feeding the pup. The pups fur is made for floating easily so when the mother dives for food the otter pup will stay afloat near by. Mother sea otters begin to teach the pups to dive and search for food at the age of two and half months. By the age of 5 months the pup is ready to go off alone.

mother and pup: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20040324/Feature1.asp