Results of the 2011 Survey of the Reintroduced Sea Otter Population in Washington State

The 2011 Washington sea otter survey was conducted from 11-15 July 2011 and included the inshore waters of Washington from the South Jetty at the mouth of the Columbia River, northward along the outer Washington coast and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Tongue Point. Biologists and volunteers from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Makah Fisheries, Quinault Indian Nation, The Seattle Aquarium, and the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium participated in the survey. Counting conditions this year were variable with visibility ranging from excellent to poor for both the aerial and ground components. During this year’s survey, fog and low visibility either prevented or reduced both ground and aerial counts on several days.