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NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 68 



lived and were released in what appeared to be excellent condition. 

 In all, 23 otters survived to be liberated on the west coast of Chi- 

 chagof Island in Southeastern Alaska. Subsequent reports of 

 sightings indicate that at least some of these animals survived the 

 winter of 1965-66. Further transplants were conducted in 1966 and 

 more are planned. 



The knowledge and techniques are now available to hold captive 

 otters in excellent health and to transport and liberate them in 

 condition to survive. Large juveniles weighing about 24 to 35 lb. 

 (11 to 16 kg.), approximately a year or somewhat older, are most 

 adaptable to life in captivity and are hardy and more adjustable 

 to stresses of travel than are older animals. Also, they are of a 

 convenient size to handle. Before being transported in small 

 carrying cages, animals should be held in a satisfactory enclosure 

 for an adjustment period of a week or more. 



It is yet to be shown that transplanted otters will form colonies 

 and repopulate vacant habitat. Southeastern Alaska offers hun- 

 dreds of miles of coastline suitable for sea otters. Will the trans- 

 planted otters behave like certain other mammals and scatter 

 after release and therefore fail to form breeding aggregations? 

 Might they also behave like other mammals and seek to return to 

 the home territory where they were captured ? These questions can 

 be answered only by continued experimentation. 



