Californian surfers are terrorized and robbed by this Otte

For several summers, unhindered surfers in Santa Cruz, California have been plagued by an evil force: they are harassed, threatened with violence, their surfboards are hijacked and stolen. However, behind these nasty machinations are not Mexican pirates or Oregon irregulars, but a female Otten.

After the attacks recently turned out to be much more aggressive, gamekeepers in the region have decided to take drastic measures for Otte 841, as it is officially called. The New York Times reports:

The five-year-old otter belongs to the endangered species of California sea otters. 841 was born and raised at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. However, her caretakers prevented them from developing a positive bond with humans. Otten are naturally afraid of humans, with that attitude 841 should be released into the wild.

However, it seems that the ottin quickly lost her fear. Experts at the Monterey Bay Aquarium believe she has been fed and is no longer avoiding humans. In 2021 she would have climbed on surfboards for the first time.

This weekend the thief Öttin is said to have stolen 3 surfboards. Surfer John Lee reports that the animal swam up to him, threw himself onto the board, bit through his leash, and then ripped large chunks out of the board with his teeth. He himself fled early.

16-year-old Noah Wormhoudt, on the other hand, had a more peaceful encounter with Öttin 841: «I jumped off the plank and she jumped on. After that she was shredding and catching some good waves.”

It’s nice that no one has been hurt so far because:

Gena Bentall, Sea Otter Savvy’s otting expert, isn’t just worried about the humans, though. Because US law has no mercy on aggressive wild animals: if 841 bites or otherwise seriously injures someone, the authorities have no choice but to put them to sleep.

Therefore, now is the time to capture the amphibious boarding goddess. However, so far all attempts in this regard have failed: “She can slip through our fingers quite well,” says Bentall. But that’s not the only talent 841 has to offer – she’s pretty good at surfing too.

(cpf)