Return of the Sea Otter

“Todd McLeish does a masterful job of weaving together conservation politics with intriguing details of the sea otter's irreplaceable role in the nearshore ecosystem. At once heartbreaking and hopeful, I was captivated by this story!” —Leigh Calvez, author of The Hidden Lives of Owls “Whether you are in the camp that defines sea otters as the epitome of cute or with the abalone, sea cucumber, or urchin fishermen that see them as their nemesis, there is no debating that sea otters play a key role in shaping healthy nearshore ocean ecosystems. From Alaska to California, these fascinating and complex animals have survived centuries of harvest and persecution and, in at least one location, even targeting as prey by killer whales. In his book Return of the Sea Otter, Todd McLeish tells this story. But he also tells the other side of the story: the one of multiple translocation efforts, research, and rehabilitation--the story of people committed to making the world a better place, once species at a time. Beautifully written, entertaining, and engaging, McLeish’s tale of the sea otter will make you love this incredible animal and the ocean even more, and will leave you with hope that our efforts to heal our stressed ocean can and will make a difference.” —Joseph K. Gaydos, coauthor of The Salish Sea