OLD MEN OF THE SEA (Original Painting) Oil on Linen 30 x 36 Unframed by Susan Andreasen

Features a family of sea otters, referencing ongoing threats such as oil spills and pollution, despite some population recovery.

It is an oil painting of a family of Sea Otters in the Pacific Ocean. Mama is rubbing oil on her baby, to protect her from the cold ocean. Two otters are eating: one, with a rock on his belly, is eating a star fish. The Otter in the front has wrapped himself in kelp to anchor himself while he sleeps. In them, there is a cigarette pack to express man’s contempt for the environment and himself and an empty six-pack holder, which is extremely dangerous to many sea creatures. 

Are sea otters still endangered? Yes, sea otters, particularly the Southern Sea Otter (California), are still considered threatened or endangered and retain Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections, despite population gains; they face ongoing threats like oil spills, disease, poor water quality, and climate change impacts, with recent reviews confirming they still need federal help for recovery. While some populations have rebounded well in parts of their range, the overall picture shows they are not fully recovered to historical levels or wide distribution.