The Aleutian Oslands sea otter population was deemed a threatened species three years ago under the Endangered Species Act.  By all estimates, there is less than half the number of northern sea otters alive today, with that number being around 40,000.  Because of this decline in the number of Arctic sea otters a federal agency is proposing that around 6,000 square miles of southwest Alaska shoreline be considered protected habitat for the otters. more »