THE SEA OTTER IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN 213 



Discussion 



The largest aggregations (animals hauled out in close prox- 

 imity on the same rocks) were seen on male hauling grounds at 

 Amchitka. I saw from 70 to over 100 on several occasions at 

 East Cape. I seldom saw more than 10 to 15 females in close 

 proximity on the same rock at any hauling ground (fig. 85). 

 During aerial surveys, certain large aggregations contained few, 

 if any, mothers with small young as far as we could ascertain. 



Large aggregations were photographed at sea off Unimak 

 Island (fig. 81) and mothers carrying small pups were not detected 

 on the photograph. In the same general area but away from the 

 aggregations, however, I saw many mothers carrying young on 

 their chests. These mothers with young were usually alone but 

 occasionally two were near each other. It thus appears that males 

 and females habitually segregate themselves, both when on the 

 hauling grounds and in offshore locations. 



More observations of this aspect of social behavior are needed 



4, 



Figure 85.— Rifle Range Point, a female hauling ground. Three of the females! 

 have entered the water; eleven adults and large juveniles remain on the 

 rocks. (KWK 62-17-31) 



