Friend: “I love your outfit!” Me: Thanks! It has pockets! Did you know sea otters have flaps of loose skin under each forearm that they use like a pocket? What are these pockets full of? (Hint: It’s not sunshine.) Alright, it’s not pocket science. When swimming, the pockets are used to carry as much food as possible back to the surface. Think buffet fanny pack. Hot pocket! Otters also use their pockets to stash rocks. They use rocks to crack open clams, crabs and other shellfish on their tummies. (Tummies is the scientific term.) They may also use rocks to hammer abalone shells, as quickly as 45 times in just 15 seconds (hammer time!), until the abalone loosen their tight grip on the seafloor. The ones left behind are left…well, abalonely. Image: A sea otter in the water floating on its back at Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. NPS/M. Bradburn #pockets #otter #nationalpark #kenaifjords #travel