Why Sea Otters Tie Themselves to Kelp

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]Sea otters use kelp as a built-in safety rope. The popular image shows them floating lazily, but the truth is they deliberately wrap a strand of kelp around a rock or anchor it to the seafloor while they eat or nap. This prevents the current from whisking them away, especially when they're busy cracking open a clam. The behavior also creates a tiny home base that they can return to, conserving energy that would be spent swimming back and forth. It's a simple low-tech solution that lets them stay in the richest feeding spots without drifting into open water. Next time you see an otter drifting, notice the green tether holding it steady.