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SANTA CRUZ – Move over Otter 841, a new marauding sea mammal is up to mischief.
On Wednesday, an otter snagged a board from a surfer at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Fire Department Marine Division said in a statement to this news organization.
The incident recalled the antics of Otter 841, who was photographed stealing a surfboard and even riding a wave in summer 2023. A spokesperson for the fire department said the otter involved in Wednesday’s incident was not identified as 841.
Around 5:06 p.m., emergency responders were dispatched for a report of a surfer who was possibly bitten by an otter.
Lifeguards arrived to find a group of surfers surrounding another surfer in the water, as well as “an otter who appeared to be sitting on the victim’s board,” the fire department said.
The surfer was pulled from the water and evaluated by medical personnel. The fire department said she was not injured or bitten by the otter.
Lifeguards retrieved and returned the board to the surfer.
“Once the equipment was given back to the owner, units were cleared from the incident,” the fire department said.
The city plans to notify the California Department of Fish and Wildlife about the incident.
Otter 841, meanwhile, remains on the lam.
Born at a UC Santa Cruz research center and raised by her mother at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the creature successfully evaded federal and state wildlife authorities who, concerned by her aggressive behavior, tried to catch her using boats, nets, cages and scuba divers.
She resurfaced at a surfing contest in May 2024, climbing onto a volunteer’s board for about 15 minutes before slipping back into the ocean.
Check back for updates.
Originally Published:
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Jason Green
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