Sea otters protect the Pacific coastline

A multi-year study concluded that sea otters solidify marsh banks and prevent erosion. The study kept sea otters out of some areas, allowed them in other areas, and found that the playful creatures prevent approximately 10 inches of erosion each year.

NPR: California sea otters nearly went extinct. Now they’re rescuing their coastal habitat

In a nutshell, a proliferation of crabs will lead to erosion as they eat plant roots and burrow in the mud. Enter stage left the otters, which eat crabs “like popcorn,” keeping the marsh ecosystems in balance.

Otters are missing along much of the California coastline, and all of Oregon’s. This study and its conclusion — otters stabilize coastlines — is another reason to bring back sea otters.