Maternal Behavior in the California Sea Otter

Female sea otters ( Enhydra lutris ) with young observed along the coast from Point Lobos State Park to Lucia, California, spent 8 per cent of their daylight hours nursing their young, 20 per cent grooming their young, 10 per cent grooming themselves, 16 per cent feeding, 13 per cent swimming and 41 per cent resting. Nursing was always simultaneous with resting or with grooming of the pup. Females nursed their young an average of six times per day and each bout lasted about 9 minutes. The mean duration of food dives by females with young was 52 seconds. The peak period of birth was from December to February. Postpartum behavior of one female is described.