Sea otters are one of the most charismatic marine mammals. Capable of living their entire lives free of contact with land, they eat, sleep, and give birth at sea. Hunted relentlessly for centuries, these appealing creatures were brought back from the brink of extinction in the twentieth century: an achievement that is being championed as one of the great success stories in marine conservation. Glenn VanBlaricom traces the turbulent history of the species and discusses their fascinating behavior. World-class photographers capture the spirit of this most lovable animal.