Gallery: Tiny Sea Otter Siblings Fight the Odds
01two-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/)*
02floating-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/)*
03twin-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/)*
04floating-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/)*
05grooming-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/)*
06sea-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/)*
07grooming-pup
*"She's constantly grooming their fur," Staedler said. Photo: Mike Baird/[Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/with/9137173593/)*
08snuggling-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/)*
09herrow
*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/)*
