Gallery: Tiny Sea Otter Siblings Fight the Odds

  • Two pups
    01

    two-pups

    *Twin sea otters are exceptionally rare, accounting for about 2 percent of births. But the demands of raising two pups are too great for sea otter mothers, and one pup is usually abandoned after a few days. Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)*
  • Floating and Grooming
    02

    floating-and-grooming

    *The twins would alternate between nursing and being groomed, sometimes floating near mom. Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)*
  • Twin Sea Otter Pups
    03

    twin-sea-otter-pups

    *"There were times when they were just laying there sleeping," Staedler said. Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)*
  • Floating Pup
    04

    floating-pup

    *"If one drifted away, she would go back and pick it up and get it and put it on top of her," Staedler said, describing the otters' mom. Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)**Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)*
  • Grooming and Nursing
    05

    grooming-and-nursing

    *"It would be a lot of work to feed two of these little guys," Staedler said. "Metabolically, it's not possible. They don't have the physiology to be able to do that." Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)*
  • Sea Otter Twins
    06

    sea-otter-twins

    *Pups ride around on top of mom to stay warm, said Michelle Staedler. Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)*
  • Grooming Pup
    07

    grooming-pup

    *"She's constantly grooming their fur," Staedler said. Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)*
  • Snuggling Pups
    08

    snuggling-pups

    *Sea otter pups do a lot of sleeping when they're so young. Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)*
  • Herrow
    09

    herrow

    *Sea otters have two nipples down by their tail. Sometimes, pups fall asleep while nursing -- just like little kids. Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)*
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