Beware of the Mischievous Sea Otter That Steals Surfboards

Surfers in Santa Cruz, California, are facing a new challenge in the form of an unruly southern sea otter. This otter has been causing havoc by approaching surfers, forcing them off their boards, and even chewing on them. Mark Woodward, who has been documenting incidents of sea otters harassing people, tweeted that the otter’s behavior may seem cute, but it is actually a problem. He shared photos of “Otter 841” perched on someone’s surfboard and explained that the surfer had to abandon the board and swim to shore because of the aggressive otter.

Woodward also shared a video of a surfer trying to defend themselves against the otter, but the otter was not deterred. Otter 841 has been “stalking” surfers for months, according to NBC News, and the New York Times reports that this behavior has been going on for a couple of years. The otter has shown odd interactions with humans, including climbing aboard a watercraft in 2021. While sea otters usually avoid humans, this otter has become bolder over time, possibly due to hormonal surges or acclimation to human presence.

However, not all encounters with Otter 841 have been negative. One surfer, Noah Wormhoudt, had a friendly experience with the otter, who commandeered his board. Wormhoudt described it as a cool experience, with the otter catching some waves. But Gena Bentall of the nonprofit Sea Otter Savvy warns that these close encounters are extremely dangerous because sea otters have sharp teeth and powerful jaws.

The authorities are now working with the Monterey Bay Aquarium to locate and relocate the otter. However, previous attempts to capture Otter 841 have been unsuccessful. The otter has evaded capture multiple times. Despite the challenges, the goal is to ensure the safety of both humans and the otter. The population of southern sea otters is already low, numbering just a few thousand, so it is important to protect and preserve this species.