Sea otters use rocks to smash open dinner

Sea otters are expert tool-users, especially when hunting for food in the Pacific Ocean. These clever mammals float on their backs, using rocks or stones to crack open tough-shelled prey like sea urchins, clams, and abalone. This smart technique helps them reach the nutritious insides, which is vital for their high-energy diet. They need to eat up to 25 percent of their body weight daily! Researchers have observed this behavior since the 1960s, noting that otters even pick specific rocks for the job. Some otters even have favorite 'personal' tools they carry around, showing surprising cognitive abilities.