Sea otters were the animals that inspired me to become a marine educator. I began my career at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, volunteering in education and with the seabird and marine mammal husbandry departments. Before becoming a full-time staff member there, I worked in Southeast Alaska for three summers. It was there that I first saw sea otters in the wild! Since then, I have seen wild otters off the coasts of Washington, British Columbia and California - kayaking with them in Monterey Bay and the Elkhorn Slough. Currently I work at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium where I get to visit our resident sea otters Moea, Libby and Clara. I was also given the opportunity with Arbordale Publishing to write a book for children comparing sea otters to river otters.