This Valentine's Day Show Sea Otters Some Love

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and there’s no better time of year to give a little love to California’s threatened sea otters.

Sea Otter

They need our help. A record number of sea otters were found dead along the California coastline in 2010. And the 3-year population average (the measure scientists use to balance out the population’s ups and downs) has been in decline for two consecutive years.

What Can We Do to Help Our Sea Otter Friends?

For sea otters, nothing says, “I love you,” like a bucket of fresh abalone on ice. But what these fuzzy marine mammals would love even more is continued funding for important research and recovery programs.

And Californians have an easy way to contribute. Just check the box next to the CA Sea Otter Fund on your state income tax form, and you can to make a positive difference for sea otters.

Known as a keystone species, sea otters are critical for the health of California’s near shore waters and over the past four years, the Golden State has raised over one million dollars to support sea otter research and recovery efforts through the tax check-off program, which will sadly come to an end this year.

The good news is that Assemblyman Bill Monning will be introducing a bill in less than 2 weeks in the California Legislature to extend the program. Show your support by helping the fund meet this year’s target of $260,890.