The Oregon coast is a rugged, untamed landscape, shaped by powerful waves and teeming with marine life. But one critical species is missing from this ecosystem – the sea otter.
Once a thriving part of the coastal environment, sea otters were hunted to local extinction over a century ago, leaving the ecosystem out of balance.
What if their return could restore Oregon’s kelp forests and bring resilience back to these waters?
Welcome back to Rewildology, the nature podcast that explores the human side of conservation, travel, and rewilding the planet.
In today’s episode, we’re exploring the effort to bring sea otters back to Oregon with Chanel Hason, Director of Outreach and Community Relations at Elakha Alliance.
Chanel’s journey from marine biologist to community leader is as inspiring as it is unconventional. From training sea lions and competing in Miss Scuba to manifesting her dream job, Chanel’s passion for ocean conservation helps drive Elakha Alliance’s mission to restore sea otters to their historical range.
In this conversation, we discuss the ecological importance of sea otters, when and how they were extirpated from much of their region during the fur trade era, the challenges posed by urchin barrens, and how Elakha is working with tribes, federal and state government representatives, scientists, and local communities to make reintroduction a reality.
You’ll walk away from this conversation with a deeper understanding of the delicate balance within marine ecosystems, the role of apex predators like sea otters, and how grassroots conservation efforts can create lasting change.
Learn More About Today’s Sponsor, SEE Turtles
Before we dive in, I want to thank today’s sponsor, SEE Turtles. SEE Turtles connects people with sea turtles in meaningful and impactful ways while supporting community-based conservation efforts. Their work aligns with the heart of Rewildology, and I’m thrilled to have them as a sponsor. They’re Oregon-based, as with today’s featured organization, Elakha, and strive every day to restore marine biodiversity. If you’re inspired by this conversation and want to take action, check out seeturtles.org/rewild to learn 5 ways you can help marine ecosystems – from joining a conservation trip to saving a baby turtle and even fighting the illegal trade. Plus, Rewildology listeners can get $50 off a conservation trip by using the promo code “rewild.”
Alright, let’s jump in! Here’s my conversation with Chanel from Elakha Alliance.
