The disappearance of Steller`s sea cow from the Bering and Copper islands by 1768 has long been blamed on intensive hunting. But its disappearance took only 28 years from the time Steller first described the species, a remarkably short time for hunting alone to depopulate the islands, especially given the large populations initially reported. However, by 1750, hunters had also targeted nearby sea otter populations. Fewer otters would have allowed sea urchins` grazing pressure on kelp forests to increase. Sea cows were totally dependent on kelp for food, and within a decade of the onset of otter hunting, Steller noted that the islands` sea cows appeared malnourished.