Join natural history author Todd McLeish as he discusses North America’s cutest mammal, the sea otter! From Monterey Bay, California to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, McLeish spent three years studying and interacting with one of nature’s cutest and most fascinating little furballs.
Nearly driven to extinction for their thick fur, sea otters have rebounded throughout much of their range on the Pacific Coast but are still threatened by sharks, killer whales, oil spills, and other factors. Todd will share stories of the influential role sea otters play in their ecosystem, their remarkable tool use, their conflicts with fishermen and Native Alaskans, and how biologists are working to help restore their populations. And of course, along the way, he’ll share adorable photos of what many consider one of the most charismatic animals on Earth. Did you think we’d forget that?
Todd McLeish is a Rhode Island-based author and science writer who has been writing about wildlife and environmental issues for more than 25 years. In hundreds of magazine and website articles, he has highlighted dozens of threatened species, profiled biologists and wildlife artists, and addressed such issues as invasive species, marine pollutants, climate change, renewable energy and predator/prey relationships. He has published four books about rare wildlife, including, Narwhals: Arctic Whales in a Melting World and Return of the Sea Otter. Todd is an expert birder, a popular leader of natural history walks, and a former world joggling champion (juggling while jogging).
