2. Oil Spills and Sea Otters Summer Stanford Johnson Liu Summer Stanford Johnson Liu

3. Outline Questions  Hypothesis  How does oil affect sea otters?  Solutions & Prevention Existing Laws Randall William Davis Conclusions Questions  Hypothesis  How does oil affect sea otters?  Solutions & Prevention Existing Laws Randall William Davis Conclusions

4. How the oil effects the Sea Otters  When a sea otter fur is covered in oil  The oil destroys the protective air layer of the otter ’ s fur  Without the protective air layer, heat can longer remain in the fur  When a sea otter fur is covered in oil  The oil destroys the protective air layer of the otter ’ s fur  Without the protective air layer, heat can longer remain in the fur

5. How the oil effects the Sea Otters (continued)  Otters have no fat  Use fur to keep warm  Oil fills air spaces in fur  Otter freezes to death from hypothermia  Otters have no fat  Use fur to keep warm  Oil fills air spaces in fur  Otter freezes to death from hypothermia

6. Solutions

7. Solution #1 Cleaning the Sea Otters  Dish washing detergent works best to clean the oil off the sea otters  But takes several days for air layer in fur to return to normal  Dish washing detergent works best to clean the oil off the sea otters  But takes several days for air layer in fur to return to normal

8. Solution #2 Rehabilitation Program  Proven Solution  Many volunteers and patience required  Large pools built where the sea otters can slowly recover over time  Proven Solution  Many volunteers and patience required  Large pools built where the sea otters can slowly recover over time

9. Solution #3 Pass Laws  Makes oil drilling and shipping illegal in wildlife areas  Laws passed to prohibit water pollution  These laws prevent oil spills by putting a fine on organizations  This money can be used to help rehabilitation programs  Makes oil drilling and shipping illegal in wildlife areas  Laws passed to prohibit water pollution  These laws prevent oil spills by putting a fine on organizations  This money can be used to help rehabilitation programs

10. Existing Laws  Clean Water Act  Oil Pollution Act  CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act)  SARA (Superfund Amendments & Reauthorization Act)  Clean Water Act  Oil Pollution Act  CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act)  SARA (Superfund Amendments & Reauthorization Act)

11. Randall William Davis and His Friends Saved Hundreds of Otters  On March 24, 1989 the Exxon Valdez supertanker ran aground in Prince William Sound  Davis and his friends rushed to Alaska to set a rehabilitation program  On March 24, 1989 the Exxon Valdez supertanker ran aground in Prince William Sound  Davis and his friends rushed to Alaska to set a rehabilitation program

12. Randall William Davis (Continued)  After three months 300 volunteers were able to save about 200 oiled otters out of 357 that were oiled

13. Conclusions  Oil spills can be very harmful to sea otters  Oil directly affects the sea otter’s fur so it can’t keep warm  Humans should think about where they are shipping and drilling oil  Passing laws can be a legit way to help  Oil spills can be very harmful to sea otters  Oil directly affects the sea otter’s fur so it can’t keep warm  Humans should think about where they are shipping and drilling oil  Passing laws can be a legit way to help

14. References  Davis, Randall W. "Rescuing Sea Otters." 6 June 2006, http://www.units.muohio.edu/dragonfly/save/seaotters.s html  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “ Laws and Regulations, Oil Program, US EPA ” 7 June 2006, http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/lawsregs.htm http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/lawsregs.htm  Dils, Tracey. The Exxon Valdez. Chelsea House Publisher; 2001.  DuTemple, Lesley A. Oil Spills. Lucent Books Inc;1999  Wikipedia, “Sea Otter” 8 June 2006, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sea_otter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sea_otter  Davis, Randall W. "Rescuing Sea Otters." 6 June 2006, http://www.units.muohio.edu/dragonfly/save/seaotters.s html  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “ Laws and Regulations, Oil Program, US EPA ” 7 June 2006, http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/lawsregs.htm http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/lawsregs.htm  Dils, Tracey. The Exxon Valdez. Chelsea House Publisher; 2001.  DuTemple, Lesley A. Oil Spills. Lucent Books Inc;1999  Wikipedia, “Sea Otter” 8 June 2006, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sea_otter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sea_otter