THE SEA OTTER IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN 77 



Figure 38. — Using its left paw, a grooming sea otter pulls the loose skin 

 from its right side over the right foreleg in order to press water from the 

 pelage and lick away the moisture. Moisture in the tips of the fur give the 

 pelage a slick, wet appearance except on the head where dry, light- 

 colored underfur is exposed by parting of the wet tips. (KWK 61-10-19) 



separated from its mother and no tranquilizer is given. The sound 

 resembles the cry of a young gull. The mouth is open wide when 

 the cry is uttered. 



SCREAM 



This is uttered (1) when an adult is in severe distress — as when 

 held in unsatisfactory captive conditions. Often it indicates that the 

 animal is near death. It is not uttered when an animal is captured. 

 (2) When a female has lost her young, as when the pup strays 

 behind a rock, she screams repeatedly. This cry is the adult version 

 of the baby cry. It is earsplitting at close quarters and can be heard 

 at a distance of 14 to V2 i^ile in the wild and as far away as 

 200 meters when an animal is in a closed building. The mouth is 

 open wide when the otter screams. 



WHISTLE OR WHINE 



This is uttered to denote frustration or mild distress. Captives 



