Otter are currently on the endangered species list listed under threatened and fully protected. Threats the sea otter faces are humans, natural predators, and parasites.

otter: http://library.thinkquest.org/J0111704/meetthreespecialotters/meetthreespecialotters.html

The sea otters natural predators are sharks, orcas, some bears, coyotes, and the bald eagle. The otter is able to escape these predators by swimming, hiding in the kelp forests, and fleeing to land. There are many parasites and pathogens, such as prtozoal encephalitis and coccidioidomycosis, that can kill sea otters.

Sea otters were once hunted almost to the point of extinction for its pelt. Humans are sill a major threat to the sea otter population. The fishing industry causes many sea otter deaths. Fisheries sometimes over fish the abalone and sea urchin population, two of the otters favorite foods. Otters also can get caught in the fishing nets and drown. Oil spills are another major threat to the sea otters. In 1989, a huge oil spill caused many deaths for sea otters.

otters in oil: http://www.adn.com/evos/photos/evos29l.jpg

The sea otter is the only marine mammal without blubber to keep it warm in the arctic waters it lives in. The fur on the otters body is very thick to keep the otter warm. The fur is also designed to trap air for extra warmth with underwater and buoyancy. When oil comes in contact with this special fur, otter can get hypothermia and die. The oil can also cause otters to become very sick fro the hydrocarbon fumes or from ingesting petrolum trying to clean their coat. Public efforts focus on prevention to minimize the chance of another major oil spill.