Otter 841 and her pup are still in Monterey Bay waters and will remain there for the foreseeable future, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has no plans to restart its efforts to capture the feisty marine mammal.
Otter 841 coverage
Posted inCoast Life
Otter 841+1: Fish & Wildlife pauses efforts to capture surfboard-stealing otter after she gives birth to pup
Once U.S. Fish and Wildlife personnel confirmed that Santa Cruz’s famous marine mammal, Otter 841, recently gave birth to a pup, the agency halted capture efforts for the time being. Mark Woodward, the photographer who has spent months documenting the feisty otter, said seeing 841 and her pup was “almost an emotional moment.”
Posted inEnvironment
After eluding capture attempts, Otter 841 finds peace as new mother
Santa Cruz’s famous sea otter, 841, has given birth to a wee pup — suggesting that erratic behavior including pilfering surfboards could have been hormonally driven.
Posted inCoast Life
Otter 841 still roaming free as Fish & Wildlife struggles to capture her
Otter 841 remains free in the Santa Cruz waters, even as state and federal fish and wildlife workers continue to try to capture her. They could halt attempts if ocean conditions like visibility and water clarity worsen, or if surfers stop reporting run-ins.
Posted inCoast Life
Selfies by the sea: Otter 841’s popularity renews concerns about humans encroaching on marine wildlife
The growing popularity of Santa Cruz’s Otter 841 is renewing concerns about the damaging ways that humans encroach on marine life. Researchers say ocean tourism, social media and portable cameras are enticing spectators to get closer to wild animals. Some are now raising the alarm that repeated human encounters are harming the animals’ predator-avoidance instincts.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the Editor: Otter 841, where are you?
Make your voice heard in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion forum with a letter to the editor.
Posted inCoast Life
As ‘Free Otter 841′ movement grows, expert warns that officials have little choice but to capture it
Although fish and wildlife officials continue efforts to capture the surfboard-stealing sea otter known as Otter 841 and bring her into captivity, local pushback is growing. Some Santa Cruzans and visitors want to see the otter remain in the wild: “I think the ocean belongs to the otter, so we should just let the otter be in her ocean,” said one.
Posted inCoast Life
Otter 841 continues to evade capture off Cowell Beach; effort could take weeks
Santa Cruz’s infamous surfboard-stealing otter remained at large after the latest unsuccessful attempt Monday afternoon by wildlife officials to take it into custody for study. A spokesperson for the Monterey Bay Aquarium said scientists believe that could take days to weeks.
Posted inCoast Life
Santa Cruz’s surfboard-stealing sea otter is still at large
The 5-year-old female southern sea otter has been exhibiting unusual aggressive behavior toward surfers over the past month around Santa Cruz’s renowned Steamer Lane surf break. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is searching for the animal to bring it into captivity, but as of Wednesday evening, agents had not yet secured the otter.