Mammal
Sea Otter
Enhydra lutris
Photo: Mike Baird, CC BY 2.0
Common Names
Sea Otter
Habitat
From Pacific
Conservation
Vulnerable
First Observed
1805-11-20
Observed At
Fort Clatsop, near present-day Astoria, Oregon
Known only from pelts and native clothing on Pacific Coast. Cannot ascribe to either northern or southern subspecies.
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Sea Otter
Feb
15
1806
Lewis: February 15, 1806
... plains or kit fox, Antelope, sheep,
beaver, common otter, sea Otter, mink, spuck, seal, racoon, large grey
squirrel, small brown squirrel, small grey squirrel, ground...
Feb
15
1806
Clark: February 15, 1806
... plains or kit
fox, Antelope, Sheep, beaver, Common Otter, Sea Otter, minks, Seals
racoons, large Grey Squerrel, Small brown Squirrel, Small grey Squirrel,
Ground Squ...
Feb
18
1806
Lewis: February 18, 1806
...ed by eight Clasops and Chinnooks
from whom we purchased a Sea Otter's skin and two hats made of waytape and
white ceder bark. they remained untill late in the evening...
Feb
18
1806
Clark: February 18, 1806
...ed by a Clatsop & Seven
Chinnooks from whome I purchased a Sea otter's Skin and two hats made of
way tape and Silk grass and white cedar bark. they remained untill lat...
Feb
23
1806
Clark: February 23, 1806
...they have ever been Since they have been on the voyage.
The Sea Otter is found only on the Sea Coast and in the Salt water. Those
animals which I took to be the Sea Ott...
Feb
23
1806
Lewis: February 23, 1806
...han they ever have since they have
been on this voige.
The Sea Otter is found on the sea coast and in the salt water. this anamal
when fully grown is as large as a com...
Feb
24
1806
Clark: February 24, 1806
...m two dogs. the Chief and his party had brought for
Sale a Sea otter Skin, Some hats, Sturgeon and a Species of fish which now
begins to run and are taken in Great qua...
Feb
24
1806
Lewis: February 24, 1806
...m two dogs. The chief and his party had brought
for sail a Sea Otter skin some hats, stergeon and a species of small fish
which now begin to run, and are taken in grea...
Feb
26
1806
Clark: February 26, 1806
...of the roabs made of
those Skins to loin a westcoat of the Sea otter, which I have made and
Capt Lewis a Tiger Cat Skin Coat loined with them also, they make a very
p...
Mar
9
1806
Clark: March 9, 1806
...isited by 3 Clatsop men who brought a Dog, Some fish and a
Sea otter Skin for Sale. we Suffered them to remain all night. we Set
Shields at work to make Some Sacks of ...
Mar
9
1806
Lewis: March 9, 1806
... visited by 3 Clatsop men who brought a dog some fish and a Sea Otter skin
for sale. we suffered them to remain all night. we set Shields at work to
make some sacks of...
Mar
15
1806
Clark: March 15, 1806
...tel a Clatsop man
and his family. he brought a Canoe and a Sea Otter Skin for Sale neither
of which we could purchase of him. the Clatsops which had brought a Canoe
f...
Mar
15
1806
Lewis: March 15, 1806
...tel a Clatsop man and his family. he
brought a canoe and a Sea Otter Skin for sale neither of which we
purchased this evening. The Clatsops who had brought a canoe for...
Mar
19
1806
Clark: March 19, 1806
...ome of those on the Sea Coast have
robes of Beaver and the Sea Otter. a mat is Sometimes temperaly thrown
over the Sholders to protect them from rain. they have no oth...
Mar
19
1806
Lewis: March 19, 1806
...able of these robes are made of strips of the skins of
the Sea Otter net together with the bark of the white cedar or silk-grass.
these strips are first twisted and la...
