A 5-year-old female sea otter, known for her aggressive behavior towards surfers and kayakers off the Santa Cruz coast, is being targeted for capture by wildlife officials. This unusual behavior, which includes wrestling surfboards from surfers and even biting chunks out of them, has been ongoing for several weeks and poses a public safety risk according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Experts from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Monterey Bay Aquarium are collaborating to capture the otter and relocate her to a new home. The public is advised to avoid interacting with the otter and to refrain from encouraging her interactions.

Although no injuries have been reported, officials are concerned due to the escalating nature of the otter's actions. The reasons behind this unusual aggression remain unclear, although hormonal changes or prior feeding by humans are considered potential factors.

Identified as sea otter 841, the animal was born in captivity and released in 2020. She is equipped with a tag and radio transmitter, aiding in her tracking and eventual capture. This isn't the first instance of her aggressive behavior; similar incidents were reported in late 2021 and again last year, even after she was observed with a pup.

Previous attempts to deter her through hazing techniques, such as loud noises and splashing water, proved unsuccessful. The goal is to instill a natural fear of humans in the otter, encouraging her to avoid contact. Once captured, she will undergo a veterinary evaluation and be relocated to a zoo or aquarium where she can serve as an ambassador for her species.

Euthanasia remains a last resort if the otter harms a human. Southern sea otters, a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, are vital to the coastal ecosystem. With a population rebounding to around 3,000 from a low of 50 in 1938, they play a crucial role in controlling sea urchin populations, protecting kelp forests.