09/26/2026
WEEKEND OCEAN CHALLENGE #1: The Otter Float Test
Sea otters float on their backs all day because their fur traps a layer of air. Test it at home:
1. Fill a bowl with water.
2. Drop in a dry cotton ball. Watch it float.
3. Squeeze a second cotton ball underwater so the air escapes. Watch it sink.
4. Ask: what happens to an otter when oil or dirt squeezes the air out of its fur?
That is why otters groom for hours, and why oil spills are so dangerous for them.
Sea Otter Awareness Week ends today!
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