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Sea otters, once abundant along the Pacific coastline, are slowly reclaiming their role as critical ecosystem engineers. But the survival of California’s sea otters now depends less on Washington, D.C., and more on Silicon Valley donors and conservation groups stepping into a widening funding gap.

Story Highlights

California has only about 3,000 sea otters left.
Sea otters help kelp forests resist climate change by eating invasive species.
A federal restoration roadmap estimated $43 million in costs.
The Trump administration has cut wildlife and green energy programs.
The Sea Otter Fund, launched in San Francisco, is mobilizing private donors.
Jane Goodall supported otter conservation shortly before her passing at age 91.
Experts warn conservation will increasingly depend on private financing.

Sea Otters as Ecosystem Engineers

Spend time in Monterey Bay and sea otters might appear plentiful. Surfers in Santa Cruz often spot them drifting nearby, nibbling clams. Kayakers in Elkhorn Slough find it difficult to avoid them because the estuary hosts dozens at a time.

Yet the reality is stark: California has only about 3,000 sea otters. Their role is far greater than their numbers suggest. By consuming destructive species like green crabs and purple urchins, sea otters protect kelp forests—vital underwater carbon sinks that slow the pace of climate change.

Julie Packard, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, highlighted their importance at a Carmel event earlier this year:

“We like to call otters ecosystem engineers, not just cute furry faces, because they have quite a remarkable impact.”

Federal Roadmap, but Shrinking Funds

In 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that restoring sea otters to California’s North Coast and Oregon could significantly strengthen biodiversity and climate resilience. The agency laid out a roadmap for reintroduction, estimating costs at up to $43 million.

But that plan has collided with federal cuts. The Trump administration is slashing wildlife program budgets, leaving critical gaps in conservation financing.

Private Donors Step In

Into that void steps the Sea Otter Fund, launched in April by the Wildlife Conservation Network, a nonprofit based in San Francisco. The fund’s mission is to raise tens of millions of dollars from private sources to finance the complicated, long-term project of reconnecting isolated otter populations along the Pacific coast.

Paul Thomson, chief programs officer of the nonprofit, explained the urgency:

“We are coming in at a time when we’ve seen these dramatic cuts from the federal government and conservationists are facing major funding gaps.”

Jane Goodall’s Endorsement

The Carmel event drew more than 700 attendees, including actor Clint Eastwood and leading marine researchers. The highlight was an appearance by Jane Goodall, who passed away this week at age 91 while on a speaking tour in Los Angeles.

On stage, sipping a glass of whiskey, Goodall shared her first encounter with sea otters in Big Sur during the 1960s. Just days before, she had returned to Elkhorn Slough to see a tagged otter named after her.

“We’re going through very dark times politically, socially, environmentally, and we need to get together,” she said.

Her words underscored the link between conservation, climate, and the collective effort required to safeguard biodiversity.

A Turning Point for Sea Otter Conservation

The Sea Otter Fund is already directing money into research, a prerequisite for reintroduction. Jen Miller, who left the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in August to lead the fund, described the momentum:

“It feels like this wave has been building and building and with just the right resources could crest to surf sea otter restoration to success.”

For California’s sea otters, success could mean reconnecting fragmented populations and restoring them to their historic range across the Pacific Rim.

A Wider Pattern of Cuts

The cuts affecting sea otters are part of a larger trend. The Trump administration recently canceled billions of dollars set aside for hydrogen projects in California and the Pacific Northwest—part of $8 billion in green energy reductions.

The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States, which operated for nearly four decades, shut down this year after losing access to National Science Foundation funding. At the same time, reports suggest the Department of Energy is discouraging staff from using words like “green,” “climate change,” and “energy transition.”

While the Department of Energy denied banning such language, the controversy highlights the political pressure on climate-related programs.

The Road Ahead for California’s Sea Otters

As federal support recedes, the responsibility for sea otter conservation may increasingly shift to philanthropists, nonprofits, and local communities. Sea otters are more than charismatic marine mammals—they are key players in sustaining California’s coastal ecosystems.

The success of the Sea Otter Fund could determine whether these endangered animals continue their slow comeback or face another decline. For now, the survival of California’s sea otters may rest on private action rather than public policy.

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In Central California, a small but remarkable predator is making its presence felt—quietly, gracefully, and mostly at night. The gray fox, weighing around 10 pounds and moving without leaving a trace, is increasingly being spotted across the Central Valley this season. Friendly and fast, these foxes are not just charming—they are critical to the region’s ecological balance.

Story Highlights:

Central California is seeing a notable rise in gray fox sightings this year.
Gray foxes help control rodent populations and support native ecosystems.
Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center reports a spike in rehabilitated foxes.
Experts urge the public not to feed or interact with gray foxes to keep them wild.

The gray fox is distinguished by its silvery-gray coat with patches of yellow, brown, rust, or white along the throat and belly. According to the California Living Museum, it is the most common fox in California, favoring coastal and mountain forests at lower elevations.

This year, especially in the Central Valley, nocturnal gray foxes are appearing more frequently. Donna Burt, executive director of the Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center in Hughson, Calif., described the situation.

“I didn’t have a chance to see how many foxes we got this year, but probably close to 30—more than twice what we normally get,” Burt said.

Hughson, a small town just nine miles southeast of downtown Modesto, is home to the nonprofit center that rescues and rehabilitates local wildlife brought in by the public. Serving an area from Merced to Stockton, the center has seen a notable surge in gray fox admissions this year.

“We have two fox cages, and they were full and spilled over into a third,” Burt explained.
“We get a few that are injured. Some we are able to save, some we are not—but if they come in with us, they’re in bad shape.”

Burt, who founded the center in 1984, said the spike in gray fox numbers this season is likely part of natural population cycles.

“A lot of wildlife populations have boom and bust cycles,” she said.
“When prey animals have good years, the predators reproduce successfully. Then the prey animals decrease, and the predators decrease. They go up and down as a normal cycle.”

The gray fox, an omnivore, plays a key role in controlling populations of mice, gophers, baby birds, and other small prey.

“Foxes, they love their mice. They love mice. And they like dog food and cat food,” Burt said.
“They climb fences and wander around the city quietly and secretly. They’re small and harmless. A 10-pound fox is a big one in its own way.”

Krysten Kellum, spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, confirmed the gray fox’s wide presence across the Central Valley.

“The gray fox is pretty much in all of the Central Valley cities from Fresno north,” she said.
“Foxes are intelligent, curious, and highly adaptable. Do not feed a fox. They are at risk of food conditioning or habituation to humans.”

Gray foxes share family ties with the San Joaquin kit fox, an endangered species, and the red fox, which is more commonly seen at higher elevations. Both gray and red foxes have been increasingly observed near Modesto this summer.

“These fox species may be seen in diverse habitats statewide,” Kellum added.
“Foxes provide many ecosystem benefits, helping control rodent and other small prey populations, such as squirrels and rabbits.”

Local volunteers have also noticed the uptick. Michael Hart, who patrols Tuolumne River Regional Park near downtown Modesto, said he’s spotting gray foxes more often.

“You’d look out here and see three, which is kind of unusual,” Hart said.

While gray foxes are undeniably cute and approachable, Burt and Kellum stressed that people should avoid interacting with them.

“They have kind of a skittish but mellow personality,” Burt said.
“They don’t attack things. They run away and hide. It’s tempting to want to interact with them, but it’s important to keep wildlife wild.”

The increasing visibility of gray foxes in Central California highlights both their natural population cycles and the ongoing work of rehabilitation centers. These small predators may weigh only 10 pounds, but their role in maintaining the balance of local ecosystems is immense.