In Monterey County’s Elkhorn Slough, volunteers quietly drift across the water, scanning for ripples and furry heads bobbing at the surface. This estuary is one of California’s last great wetlands — and home to a thriving population of southern sea otters. Once hunted nearly to extinction, a hidden group of survivors off Big Sur became the source of today’s 3,000 otters. Their remarkable comeback — boosted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s otter surrogacy program — has done more than just save a species. The otters are reshaping their habitat, reviving seagrass beds, and healing the ecosystem around them. Want to hear how healthy otters make for a healthy coast? Listen to the full Bay Curious episode at the link in our bio. Original reporting by Gabriela Glueck Photos by montereybayaquarium