76 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 68 



Figure 37.— The sea otter curls its long flexible body into a ball and reaches 

 between the hind flippers to groom the tail and lower back. (KWK 1028) 



Casual observers of grooming sea otters often misinterpret 

 grooming for ''scratching" and ask if sea otters have lice. They 

 do not. 



Voice 



BABY CRY 



This cry is uttered from birth until the large juvenile stage is 

 passed. The pup cries when in distress or v^hen it wants attention 

 from its mother. The sound : a sharp, high pitched "waah-waah." 

 This may be repeated constantly for long periods if the pup is 



