If You Take Away the Otter

By Susannah Buhrman-Deever, Matthew Trueman (Illustrator)

What happens when sea otters vanish and kelp forests collapse?

4.3/5 Goodreads · 368 ratings

32 pages· 648 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud

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Bookroo's summary

On the Pacific Coast, sea otters are vital to the survival of lush kelp forests. Once hunted to near extinction, their absence led to a surge in sea urchins, devastating the ecosystem. Discover how new protections helped otters and kelp forests recover, revealing the delicate balance of nature. What happens when a single species holds the fate of an entire habitat? Explore the intricate connections and the impact of human actions on this fragile environment.

From the publisher

When the sea otters disappear, why does their kelp forest habitat disappear, too? On the Pacific Coast of North America, sea otters play, dive, and hunt for sea urchins, crabs, abalone, and fish in the lush kelp forests beneath the waves. But there was a time when people hunted the otters almost to extinction. Without sea otters to eat them, an army of hungry sea urchins grew and destroyed entire kelp forests. Fish and other animals that depended on the kelp were lost, too. But when people protected the sea otters with new laws, their numbers began to recover, and so did the kelp forests. Susannah Buhrman-Deever offers a beautifully written account of a trophic cascade, which happens when the removal of a single element affects an entire habitat. Asides that dig deeper are woven throughout Matthew Trueman’s dynamic illustrations, starring a raft of charismatic sea otters. Back matter includes more information about sea otters and kelp forests, including their importance and current status, the effects of the international fur trade on indigenous peoples, and a list of books and websites for readers who wish to continue to explore.