96 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 68 



nile weighing 15 to 20 lb. (7 to 9 kg.) may be at least as agile on 

 land as its mother, it relaxes completely when grasped by the 

 mother and allows itself to be dragged, even over rough terrain, 

 making no effort to assist in its own progress (fig. 54). 



NURSING 



The mother sea otter nurses her pup from two abdominal nip- 

 ples, usually while floating on her back. Nursing may also take 

 place on land (fig. 55). When the pup is small it usually rests on 

 the mother's chest and abdomen while nursing, both on land or 

 while the mother is floating. If the pup becomes hungry and cries 

 while its mother is feeding, she grasps it around the chest with 

 her forepaws and rolls it onto her chest, then turns it around, 

 pushing it headforemost toward her abdominal nipples, allowing 

 it to nurse. 



As the pup grows larger it nurses while floating belly down, its 

 body at right angles to that of its mother. Nursing periods are 

 short, lasting 2 to 5 minutes. The pup kneads its mother's abdomen 

 while nursing. It was difficult to time the duration of the nursing 

 period because pups often fell asleep within 5 minutes and the 

 actual duration of the nursing period was in doubt. 



Figure 54, — This mother sea otter and her large juvenile (estimated weight 

 20-22 lb., 9-10 kg.) were surprised on land. Although the pup was capable 

 of running at least as fast as the mother, she grasped the side of its head 

 in her teeth and dragged it. On the rough terrain the pup bounced and 

 caught in crevices but it remained relaxed and limp, Vv''hen the two 

 reached the water the pup was allowed to swim free of its mother's 

 grasp. (KWK 62-17-37) 



