It is nice to see sea otters along the Santa Cruz coast. Laying on their backs, bashing a mollusk to death or eating a crab, recently caught, and still alive, one foot at a time, or rolling in the kelp, belly full, and settling in for a nap.

This marine mammal was hunted to near extinction because of their pelts. Now they are protected and have prospered on the California coast.

A five year old female, branded a “terrorist” by some in the media, has grabbed the world’s attention.

This is Otter 841.

Otter 841 was born in captivity and then released to the wild. Her mother, Otter 723 was taken out of the wild because she was habituated to people and was approaching kayakers begging for food. It was apparent that Otter 723 was being fed by humans.

While in captivity they realized that Otter 723 was pregnant and she soon gave birth to our troublemaker Otter 841.

841 was released to Monterey Bay where for four years she swam under the radar.

Starting in June of 2023, 841 has become a surfboard pirate. The otter has been observed and photographed jumping up onto surfboards, dislodging it’s surprised rider, in the popular surf spots of Steamers Lane and Cowells. On one occasion, 841 took some bites out of a surfboard.

The powers that be decided that 841 should no longer be in the wild and attempts were made to capture 841 employing the cunning use of a surfboard. They tried and tried again but they could not capture the piratical otter.

And as of publishing, Otter 841 still swims free off the coast in Santa Cruz.

Don’t mess with nature because nature usually wins.