Authorities are searching for the sea otter that has been stealing surfboards in California and exhibiting odd behavior.
Hunt for Aggressive Sea Otters in California
According to local sources, authorities in California are cautioning surfers and swimmers to exercise caution while efforts are being made to capture a sea otter that has been behaving violently toward people.
KTVU in Oakland reported that surfers at Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz, located on the central California coast, were encountering an otter displaying aggressive behavior.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the neighboring Monterey Bay Aquarium are collaborating to capture the otter, according to a statement from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to the station.
The agency is aware of the otter's worrying and unusual behaviors.
According to wildlife officials and KSBW, the female sea otter is roughly 5 years old. It was born in a cage after its mother's removal from the wild due to feeding-induced hostile behavior toward humans.
She was tagged at release after birth and was under constant observation.
Stealing Surfboards
A fourth encounter between a surfer and a sea otter occurred on Sunday.
The incident was captured by local photographer Mark Woodward, who claims it was the otter's fourth hostile encounter with surfers.
Woodward claimed that just as the sea otter appeared to be acting normally, it charged directly into the group of surfers and moved board to board, biting on each one until deciding it wanted to ride the one bright board, KSBW reported.
This may appear sweet, but it's not, according to Woodward, via KTVU.
The surfer actually gave up on his board and swam toward the shore because the sea otter was so aggressive.
The otter took seized the board as if it were it's own and got on it until the surfer who owned the board got some assistance in retrieving it. The surfer claimed that he was in a struggle with the animal, which Woodward described as a "wrestling match."
According to the photographer, a catamaran spotted what was going on and approached, which led the otter to come off the board and allowed them to board.
KTVU stated that in 2022, when otters first started interacting with people, wildlife officials stepped in.
No confirmed instances of sea otter injuries have been made, USA TODAY reported.
Sea Otters
Otters come in many different types. Some creatures live on land, in freshwater, and the sea. Some people reside in Asia, whereas others do.
Enhydra lutris, the only otter species, is entirely aquatic.
From San Mateo County located in the north to close to Santa Barbara in the south, southern sea otters can be seen along California's central coast.
Sea otters are listed as an endangered species, according to Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Related Article: Officials Contemplate Fate of Famous Sea Otter After Surfboard Theft