**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Meeting via email.** 

Sea otters are adorable, furry marine mammals that were once hunted for their prized fur during the 1700s and 1800s and nearly went extinct. Only now, nearly a century after hunting ceased, are populations showing stable growth in some places. Sea otters are a keystone species in coastal areas, feeding on sea urchins, clams, crab, and other crustaceans. When they are present, kelp beds are thick and healthy, providing homes for an array of sealife. When otters disappear, sea urchins take over, and the kelp disappears along with all of the creatures that live in the beds. Now, thanks to their protected status, sea otters are making a comeback in California, Washington, and Alaska. Science journalist Todd McLeish will share stories, phtoos and videos of his journey along the Pacific Coast  to track the status, health, habits, personality, and viability of sea otters. 

About Todd: Todd McLeish is a science writer with four published books, all on natural history topics: "Return of the Sea Otter," "Narwhals," "Basking with Humpbacks," and "Golden Wings and Hairy Toes: New England Wildlife." He is a popular public speaker on cruise ships and at museums and environmental centers and has published articles on wildlife topics in dozens of publications, including Earthwatch Journal, Bird Watcher's Digest, WildBird, and Rhode Island Monthly.
Learn more about Todd HERE.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Tewksbury Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.