Why Cat Poop is Bad News for Sea Otters

A parasite spread by cat poop is causing a big problem for endangered sea otters in California, and researchers have finally figured out how. Sea otters were nearly wiped out by the fur trade at one point, but they’ve been slowly making a comeback thanks to conservation efforts and protection under the Endangered Species Act. While they’re on the road to recovery the latest numbers from the U.S. Geological Survey released last month shows they’re population growth has stalled, with the biggest issue being that they’re dying in record numbers.