THE SEA OTTER IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN 101 



dry with her forepaws. When the pup defecates, the mother cleans 

 it by licking the fur in the anal region — often while doing this 

 she holds the pup's hind flippers above her head with her fore- 

 paws. Mothers may continue to groom the fur of large juveniles 

 to some degree even after these animals are capable of caring 

 for their own pelage (fig. 52). 



PLAY 



Large pups frequently play. If two mothers with large young 

 are feeding in the same area, the two pups may v^restle and chase 

 each other. Frequently the mothers disapprove of such play as 

 one or the other will break up the playing pair, take her young 

 one onto her chest, and swim to another feeding area. 



During a feeding period the mother sea otter satisfies her pup's 

 food needs before she satisfies her own. While the mother continues 

 to dive and eat, her pup explores the vicinity. If the pup sees an 

 adult sleeping in floating kelp, it approaches quietly, then rising 

 high in the water descends with both forepaws on the adult's 

 chest or abdomen. Adults are tolerant of such behavior and usually 

 indulge in a period of rolling and chasing play before abandoning 

 the activity to leave the vicinity and continue resting. 



ADOPTION 



Juvenile otters, lost from their mothers, may join company with 

 a tolerant adult, either male or female. Such pairs may be confused 

 for mothers with pups. Figure 90 shows an adult male and juve- 

 nile. The two had been sleeping close to each other. The young 

 animal was first to become alarmed by my presence. Besides re- 

 treating behind the adult, it placed its paws on the adult's back 

 and sides. When the adult eventually was aroused and moved into 

 the water, the juvenile followed him closely and remained in 

 company with him as he swam to deep water. 



On 16 February 1964, a newly captured adult female (which had 

 been given a mild injection (1 cc.) of Sparine) was placed in an 

 enclosure with an orphaned juvenile female several months of 

 age (wt. 18 lb., 8.2 kg.). Within a few minutes the juvenile ap- 

 proached the adult and was allowed to nurse. Two hours later the 

 adult clasped the juvenile around the neck with her forelegs when 

 I entered the enclosure and alarmed them. Similar nursing and 

 protective behavior was repeated but at increasingly long intervals 

 until 24 February. By this time the adult pushed the juvenile away 

 when it attempted to nurse and when fish were given to each 

 animal at feeding time, robbed it of food. During rest periods, 



