SLO County News BlogGolf, Wine, Real Estate, Business & Travel NewsSLO Otters Increase in NumberThursday, June 29, 2006The number of California sea otters on San Luis Obispo County's North Coast jumped 17 percent even as trained observers tallied slightly fewer of the otters over most of their range, researchers reported Tuesday. The three-week count was conducted in May.The count of 365 otters from Point Piedras Blancas lighthouse to Point Estero is 'one of the highest in years' for that stretch of about 20 miles, reported Brian Hatfield, a U.S. Geological Survey marine biologist. Last year's count was 311. The overall count from Half Moon Bay to Santa Barbara, about 375 miles, was 2,692 otters, a 1.6 percent decrease from the 2005 count of 2,735. While an average of about seven otters were counted per mile in the overall area, the North Coast averaged more than 18 otters per mile. An even higher density was found from just south of the lighthouse to near the mouth of San Simeon Creek. Article: Otter count off North Coast is 'one of the highest in years The Tribune, Kathe Tanner Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Read More
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