582 



Otter Refuge 

 (extends from west sidt 

 of Coiifornio Route 1 

 to opproximotely 

 J| mile from tliore). 



Son Simeon 

 Cambria 



Coyucet 



MorroBoy 



MILES 

 10 20 30 



Pt.CotKtpOOIt ^ ' •• -1 ''Jl 



Says biologist Wilson, who participated in the transplant operation, "the 

 experiment indicates that the animals have a homing instinct. If the otters are 

 transplanted, it must be to another habitat." 



The Department of Fish and Game has just completed two aerial surveys of 

 habitat in northern California. The surveys ranged from Santa Cruz to the Oregon 

 border. Two areas — Point Benito and Point Reyes — could prove to be suitable 

 otter habitat. Point Reyes National Seashore, located just north of San Francisco, 

 is believed to be the area where there would be the least likelihood of conflict 

 with commercial fishing interests. 



DFG wants to transplant otters to Point Reyes (at a cost of $600 per head), 

 with authority to manage the population there. Specifically, DFG wants authority 

 to control the herd size (d la Alaska?) and remove a number of animals for 

 scientific study. "We need to establish physiological ba.selines," says Wilson, in 

 support of increasing scientific investigations. "Today, if we saw otters dying we 

 wouldn't know why." 



