Please note, this National Red List website contains a subset of data whilst we transition to national focal point driven data uploads. We thank you for your patience with this and welcome national contributors to get in touch to update their national dataset. Terms of Use including citation guidance are found here.

The previous dataset is available via: https://archive.nationalredlist.org/. This site is no longer updated but can help with most enquiries whilst we focus on redevelopment.

NRLD - 93408 | Enhydra lutris

Assessment ID
93408
Taxon name
Enhydra lutris
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Enhydra lutris
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s)
Sea Otter (English), Loutre de mer (Français)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
mammalia
Order
carnivora
Family
mustelidae
Genus
Enhydra
Species
lutris
Species authority
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
Canada
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
Canada
Country ISO code(s)
CAN
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Special Concern; Préoccupante
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
The species had been extirpated in British Columbia by the fur trade by the early 1900s, and was re-introduced from 1969-72. It has since repopulated 25-33% of its historic range in British Columbia, but is not yet clearly secure. Numbers are small (<3,500) and require careful monitoring. Their susceptibility to oil and the proximity to major oil tanker routes make them particularly vulnerable to oil spills.; Cette espèce était disparue de la Colombie-Britannique en raison du commerce de sa fourrure dès le début des années 1900 et a fait l'objet d'une réintroduction de 1969 à 1972. Elle a depuis repeuplé de 25 à 33 % son aire de répartition historique en Colombie-Britannique, mais n'est toujours pas complètement en sécurité. Les effectifs sont faibles (moins de 3 500 individus) et nécessitent une étroite surveillance. La sensibilité de l'espèce aux hydrocarbures et sa proximité à d'importants trajets maritimes de pétroliers la rendent particulièrement vulnérable à des déversements d'hydrocarbures.
Assessment details
Year assessed
2007
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Environment Canada.
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN
Reference for methods given
COSEWIC- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2007)
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
British Columbia; Pacific Ocean
Is there a map available in assessment?
Not_assigned
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Terrestrial
Not_assigned
Freshwater
Not_assigned
Marine
Not_assigned
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
No information available
History
Designated Endangered in April 1978. Status re-examined and confirmed Endangered in April 1986. Status re-examined and designated Threatened in April 1996 and in May 2000. Status re-examined and designated Special Concern in April 2007.; Espèce désignée ' en voie de disparition ' en avril 1978. Réexamen et confirmation du statut en avril 1986. Réexamen du statut : l'espèce a été désignée ' menacée ' en avril 1996 et en mai 2000. Réexamen du statut : l'espèce a été désignée ' préoccupante ' en avril 2007.
Publication
COSEWIC. 2007. Canadian Wildlife Species at Risk. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Web site: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/wildlife-plants-species/species-risk.html