LAPUSH — Researchers are monitoring the affects of pollution on the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary sea otter population.
More than 100 years ago, the otters were hunted to near extinction. In 1970, Alaska sea otters were introduced into North Olympic Peninsula waters to bolster the population.
Now, with the sea otter population making a comeback, researchers are studying the affects of pollution on the species.
Researchers have collected samples from 15 sea otters this year, the maximum allowed under a permit issued by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife.
On Wednesday, researchers in three boats made their way out of the Quileute Marina to capture sea otters as part of the completion of the two-year Sea Otter Contaminant Project study.
Two male sea otters — two of the last four allowed in the 15-animal study — were caught in the Cape Johnson area.
Researchers caught the last two Thursday allowed under the study.
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