The Surfboard-Stealing Otter

In October of 2025, a surfer was catching waves in Santa Cruz, California, when she felt something nip her foot — and turned to see a sea otter perched on her surfboard! Despite her attempts to shoo it away, the otter refused to budge until a firefighter helped her retrieve the board. But this wasn’t a one-time stunt. A photographer has since spotted the same bold otter in multiple board-stealing incidents, including one where it grabbed a surfboard leash and tried to pull it backward. Locals think it might be Otter 841, a famous sea otter known for stealing surfboards back in 2023, though no one is sure since 841 lost her ID tag. Officials have reminded surfers to clap, splash water, or paddle to shore if an otter gets too close.

Southern sea otters, also called California sea otters, were once nearly hunted to extinction for their soft fur. In 1938, just 50 were found in Big Sur, CA, but thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers have grown to about 3,000 today, though they’re still endangered. These playful animals are a vital part of ocean ecosystems, helping keep kelp forests healthy by eating sea urchins. Stories like this one remind us that while wildlife can be funny and surprising, humans and animals share the same spaces, and it’s our job to protect them with respect and care.

Your Turn:

Design a short awareness campaign to help protect sea otters and keep surfers safe.
Your campaign could be:

• A funny poster or meme (“Don’t Get Board-Jacked by an Otter!” 🦦🏄‍♀️). Describe it.

• A short PSA video for social media

• A sign that could go up near a surf spot. Describe it.

Include:

• A catchy slogan

• One safety tip for surfers

• One fact about why sea otters are important to the ocean ecosystem