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Sea otter off Vancouver Island prime suspect in river otter deaths. Researchers say that’s not unusual

A sea otter off the coast of Vancouver Island has become the main suspect in a series of river otter deaths, as reported by a local wildlife enthusiast and researcher. Mollie Cameron, who is not only a captain with a local whale watching company but also the president of the Wild Wise Society, which aims to educate the public about human-wildlife interactions, has observed the sea otter, known as Ollie, carrying lifeless bodies of river otters for multiple days.

While Cameron has not witnessed Ollie killing the river otters, she has seen him carrying their bodies and noted that all the animals showed signs of sexual trauma. According to Cameron, this behavior, while not uncommon, has been consistently observed by the whale-watching community over the years. Ollie is the only sea otter in the immediate area, leading to the assumption that he is responsible for the killings and subsequent behavior.

Sea otters are native to British Columbia’s coast but were eradicated due to the fur trade. Populations were reintroduced in the early 1970s, and a 2020 report by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans estimated that there were around 8,000 sea otters in B.C. waters. Although more otters have been sighted off the north end of Vancouver Island, there are a few, including Ollie, in the southern region.

Jane Watson, a biologist at Vancouver Island University and a long-time sea otter researcher, confirmed that the behavior exhibited by Ollie is not entirely unusual. Male sea otters that are not sexually or socially mature may become frustrated when they do not have access to females, leading to aggressive behavior towards other animals.

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Watson explained that sea otters in Ollie’s situation have been known to attack birds, river otters, seal pups, and even dogs. The mating habits of sea otters can appear violent, with males grabbing females by the nose during copulation. However, Watson emphasized that females choose their mates, and it is important not to anthropomorphize otter behavior.

Sea otters, particularly males, can be quite large, similar in size to a German shepherd, which poses a threat to smaller animals during mating encounters. Cameron warns that while sea otters may appear cute, they are still wild animals and can exhibit aggressive behavior.

It is essential to remember that sea otters are part of a unique mating system, and their behavior should be understood within that context. The presence of Ollie serves as a reminder of the complexities of wildlife interactions and the importance of respecting the boundaries of these animals in their natural habitat.

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