{
  "id": 6461135,
  "title": "Sea otters returned to California estuary; eelgrass later expanded 600%",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/sea-otters-returned-to-california-estuary-eelgrass-later-expanded-600",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-09T18:25:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/wildlife/sea-otters-returned-to-a-polluted-california-estuary-in-1984-eelgrass-expanded-600-while-marsh-edge-erosion-later-slowed-by-69-on-average/articleshow/133924103.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Sea otters returned to California’s Elkhorn Slough in 1984 when pollution had severely affected its ecosystem. Their recovery triggered changes across the food web, helping eelgrass beds expand by 600%. A later study found marsh-edge erosion slowed by an average of 69%, as otters reduced populations of root-eating crabs.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}