The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is warning people enjoying the waters in Santa Cruz about an aggressive sea otter that has been seen going after surfers.
Through his lens, Woodward has seen the female otter approach many surfers and kayakers at the popular location.
"It was a true wrestling match over this surfboard," Woodward said. "And the person finally got it away and it was damaged. Basically, the board was destroyed. Literally the day before, I filmed the surfer that got so freaked out by it that he left his board and swam back to shore without it."CDFW says this 5-year-old female southern sea otter also exhibited unusual behavior in the Santa Cruz area back in September 2022, but nothing else until recently.
"They're actually pretty aggressive animals," SJSU's Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Professor David Ebert said. "They're not as cute and cuddly as people tend to think."The CDFW says it may be due to hormonal surges or because humans have fed her."They really don't want to be around humans," Ebert said.
A team is working to capture, study and find a long-term home for the otter. The CDFW is urging everyone to give her distance until that time.
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