July 15 (UPI) — California and federal wildlife officials have vowed to do everything possible to safely capture a sea otter that has been “aggressively” approaching surfers and kayakers in the Pacific Ocean near Santa Cruz.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Friday they will do the best they can to capture the 5-year-old female otter, which has been making news by biting surfboards and exhibiting other aggressive behavior.
Known as Otter 841, the animal was born at the Monterey Bay Aquarium but was released into the wild in 2021.
The organizations say a team of capture specialists from the CDFW and the Monterey Bay Aquarium has been trying to catch the otter since July 2, but has been unsuccessful.
Earlier this week, officials used a dummy surfer to try and lure the otter but were unable to do so.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Program Manger Jess Fuji says that “although this otter was born in an animal care facility, she was raised by her mother with minimal human contact.”
“Upon capture, the sea otter will undergo a health assessment and eventually be re-homed in a zoo or aquarium,” state and federal wildlife officials said in a joint statement issued Friday.
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