Biology:Otter 841
 Sea Otter 841 foraging in shallow water in Santa Cruz, CA | |
| Other name(s) | Sea Otter 841 Laverna |
|---|---|
| Species | Enhydra lutris nereis (southern sea otter) |
| Born | c. 2018 Coastal Science Campus of UC Santa Cruz |
| Known for | Unusual aggression and "stealing" surfboards by latching onto them |
| Parent(s) | Otter 723 (mother) |
| Offspring | 1 |
Otter 841 (born c. 2018), also known as Sea Otter 841, is a female southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) who attracted publicity in mid-2023 for her aggressive interactions with surfers and kayakers off the coast of Santa Cruz, California.[1][2]
841 was born in captivity at the Coastal Science Campus of the University of California, Santa Cruz and raised at Monterey Bay Aquarium by her mother, Otter 723, with minimal human intervention.[3] In June 2020 she was released into the wild at Moss Landing Wildlife Area.[4]
In October 2023, it was confirmed that 841 had given birth to a pup.[4][5] After not being sighted again for several months, she reappeared in the Santa Cruz area in May 2024.[6]
In October 2025, incidents involving otters seizing surfboards resurfaced in Santa Cruz. It was unknown whether 841 was the perpetrator or if she had inspired copycats, as otters are known to learn from one another.[7]
Otter 841 does not have an official personal name since by convention Zoologists will generally limit the assignment of proper names to captive animals only, but she has been nicknamed "Laverna" after the Roman goddess of thieves.[1][8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Iati, Marisa (July 24, 2023). "How an 'ungovernable' otter became an internet sensation". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/07/24/otter-841-surfboard-capture/.
- ↑ "Wildlife officials attempt safe capture of unusually aggressive sea otter in Santa Cruz" (in en). 2023-07-14. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CNRA/bulletins/3654bf9.
- ↑ Jones, Dustin (July 22, 2023). "An otter turned outlaw continues to evade wildlife officials in Santa Cruz". NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/07/22/1189352338/sea-otter-search-santa-cruz-surfers.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Clayton, Abené (27 Oct 2023). "841+1: beloved mischievous otter who swiped surfboards gives birth to pup" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/27/otter-841-mother-pup-california-santa-cruz.
- ↑ "Southern sea otter 841 observed with pup, wildlife biologists encourage ethical wildlife viewing" (in en). 2023-10-26. https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2023-10/southern-sea-otter-841-observed-pup-wildlife-biologists-encourage-ethical.
- ↑ Alexandra, Rae (May 29, 2024). "The Infamous Santa Cruz Sea Otter Is Back and Ready to Snack (on Surfboards)" (in en). https://www.kqed.org/arts/13958776/santa-cruz-attack-otter-841-is-back-steamer-lane-surfboard.
- ↑ Roth, Annie (October 18, 2025). "Sea Otters Are Stealing Surfboards in California. Again.". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/science/sea-otters-surfboard-santa-cruz.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uU8.1zt6.uwcykh4YDc9y&smid=url-share.
- ↑ Gorvett, Zaria (5 September 2023). "What we can learn from California's surfing sea otter". BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230905-what-we-can-learn-from-californias-surfing-sea-otter.
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