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The Oregon Coast Aquarium is currently home to several marine mammals! With sea otters, sea lions, & harbor seals, there’s all kinds of fuzzy faces to greet you on your next visit.
Our all-male raft of sea otters is composed of all southern sea otters. Watching the otters frolic in their pools or enjoy the public feedings are highlights of the visitor’s experience. Plus, seeing this threatened species up close will hopefully inspire some to help with the efforts to permanently bring the sea otter back to the Oregon coast! Our current sea otters are Oswald, Schuster, and Earle.
Known collectively as pinnipeds, Sea Lions and Harbor Seals look similar, especially when in the water. Our current sea lions are Catalina and Rosa.
Sea Lions are longer, sleeker-looking and have large front flippers and a hinged pelvis which helps them to effectively navigate on land. Sea Lions are common along the central coast of Oregon. In the Newport area a group–called a “raft” of sea lions–has taken up residence in the Yaquina Bay and can often be heard making their distinctive “bark” from miles away. Another and much larger group lives north of Florence and can be easily viewed when visiting the Sea Lion Caves.
In comparison, Harbor Seals are smaller and more “sausage shaped.” They have comparatively small fins and are not as vocal as Sea Lions. There are several stable populations of seals in Coos, Alsea, Yaquina, Siletz, Netarts and Tillamook bays. Our current harbor seals are Tazzy, Miller, Skinny, and Elvis.
Part of the care for our animals is helped by you! Donations, animal adoptions, donated enrichment items, and more all help to make a huge impact in our animals’ day to day lives.
