California Sea Otter population continue its slow increase

California sea otter numbers were up, according to the 2013 population survey led by federal, state and university scientists. The reasons: more pups — and the addition of San Nicolas Island sea otters to the population count. The sea otters have made an impressive recovery in California since their rediscovery in the 1930s. But as their numbers expand along California's coast, they are facing different 'growing pains' in different locales. Since the 1980s, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists have calculated an averaged population index each year for the Southern sea otter — Enhydra lutris nereis — a federally listed threatened species found in California. For the 2013 report, USGS lists the population index as 2,941. For southern sea otters to be considered for removal from threatened species listing, the population index would have to exceed 3,090 for three consecutive years, according to the threshold established under the Southern Sea Otter Recovery Plan by the U.S. Fish and