I am sure I am the last person on Planet Earth to see this streaming video, but just in case I am not, I thought I'd share it with you. This is a pair of otters, one of which survived the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, that live at the Vancouver Aquarium. They are floating around their tank, asleep and holding paws. Why would they hold paws like this? Is it so a mated pair can remain together on rough seas? Or maybe you have another idea -- well, besides giving the watching public something to oooo and aaaa over!
.
- Log in to post comments
More like this
Twenty years ago today, the Exxon Valdez ran aground in the Prince William Sound and spilled nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil. Hundreds of miles of Alaskaâs coastline were coated in oil, a quarter of a million seabirds died, and one estimate puts local fisheriesâ losses at nearly $300 million…
Dan Rather was the newscaster. His lead for the CBS Evening News on Friday, March 24, 1989 was:
"An oil tanker ran aground today off the nation's northern most ice-free port, Valdez, Alaska."
The Exxon vessel was holding 53 million gallons of crude oil. By 3:30 am, the Coast Guard estimated that 5.…
If you didn't already know because, by chance, you missed my tweets, posts, and facebook updates, there is a science blogging contest going on RIGHT NOW. The 3 Quarks Daily Science Blogging Prize is currently narrowing down the top 20 posts from 87 nominees. To get through the gauntlet, a post has…
Oil supplies the United States with approximately 40% of its energy needs. Billions upon billions of gallons are pumped out of our wells, brought in from other countries, and shipped around to refineries all over the states. 1.3 million gallons of petroleum are spilled into U.S. waters from vessels…
Sorry, I'm no ethologist :/ But alone in the face of a strange public, their love conquers all! :)
They do this so they can stay together while they sleep. Apparently they will "raft" together like this in larger groups as well.
A mother otter will also wrap herself and her baby in seaweed to keep them together on the ocean while they sleep.