How Sea Otters are Being Used to Combat an Invasive Crab Issue and Other Animal News

Sea Otters Solve Invasive Green Crab Problem in California

Invasive European green crabs have plagued the West Coast for years, damaging local ecosystems and species’ population numbers. Since arriving in the 1980s, the green crab has wiped out seagrass, salmon, and baby crab, devastating these species and their habitats. Ecological consequences are not the only effects of invasive species like the European green crab. Additionally, the fishing and seafood industries suffer when aquatic species are met with competition by invasive animals.

States along the Pacific have long attempted to rid themselves of pestilent green crabs. However, the reintroduction of southern sea otters to the region has dramatically changed the situation. Invasive green crabs are now met with a hungry predator: the southern sea otter.

Experts first observed otters’ role in restabilizing Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve marine populations. Some scientists estimate that the current otter population at the reserve could consume up to 120,000 green crabs annually. Otters may significantly reduce invasive green crab populations, resulting in ecological and economic benefits along the West Coast.

Oregon State Parks Hosts Whale Watch Week Starting Today

Oregon State Parks hosts Whale Watch Week as gray whales migrate to calving grounds near Baja California. Approximately 19,000 whales will be on the move this week, making it an opportune time for whale watchers along the West Coast. Park rangers recommend dressing for cold weather and bringing binoculars, as the whales will be swimming miles from the coastline. Part of the park’s Whale Watch Week includes various stations along the Oregon coast. Whale watchers can visit any of the 15 sites for information on whales and how to spot them. Find out more about Whale Watch Week here.

Minnesota Woman Rescues Snowy Owl from Car Grille

A woman named Annabell Whelan from Duluth, Minnesota, saved two owls within 24 hours. The first owl she encountered was an injured great gray owl, which she delivered to Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation in Duluth. Hours later, Whelan saw another owl, but its circumstances were more severe. The snowy owl had collided with the grille of a car, trapping it as it hung helplessly.

Unfortunately, Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation had closed, so Whelan took responsibility for caring for the injured animal herself. As a zoo employee with a biology and environmental science degree, she felt obligated to do so. She brought the snowy owl back to her home, where she coaxed and cared for it. She also named the bird “Nowl” after the word “noel.” The following day, Whelan found Nowl alive and transported her to Wildwoods, where she received veterinary care.