Book excerpt: This book was written by twenty-nine professionals with the often unwilling cooperation of 357 Alaskan sea otters -- the most photogenic and probably the most vulnerable of the mammalian victims of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.It is divided into three sections covering a broad range of concerns, from how best to capture a sea otter, through tests and suggested treatments, to considerations governing release of rehabilitated animals. Experts also discuss facility design, volunteer training, and personnel safety issues.Although its contents are useful for a variety of people from policymakers to veterinarians, Emergency Care and Rehabilitation of Oiled Sea Otters aims chiefly at helping rehabilitators, representatives of the oil industry, and government agents conduct successful rehabilitation efforts. The book contains the best available information on the subject; nothing else even comes close.