Oiled Sea Otter Rehabilitation Course

Summary

Sea otters have a very dense fur that traps air and provides thermal insulation in water. This insulation is lost when an otter comes into contact with oil. To restore the fur’s insulating air layer, it must be cleaned thoroughly, rinsed well to remove residual detergent, and dried. Finally, the otter must groom itself to restore the fur’s full water repellency, a process which may take several weeks. The application of conditioners may accelerate this process, but further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of this procedure.