Surfing Otter Strikes Again in California

October 21, 2025

Share to Google Classroom

Beachgoers in Santa Cruz, California, are being warned about an unusually bold sea otter that has been stealing surfboards and startling surfers. The latest encounter happened on Wednesday at Steamer Lane, a popular surfing spot.

Surfer Isabella Orduna said the otter climbed onto her board and even gave her a gentle bite on the foot, although it didn’t break the skin. “I’d call it an exploratory nip,” she said. The otter sat on her board for around 20 minutes before finally leaving, with help from other people nearby.

Local photographer Mark Woodward, who saw the incident, returned the next day and watched another surprising scene. This time, the otter grabbed the leash of a teenage surfer and tried to pull him backward as he paddled away.

Signs have now been put up at the beach, warning: “Aggressive sea otter in this area. Enter the water at your own risk. Keep away from marine wildlife.”

In 2023, a female sea otter nicknamed Otter 841 became famous for similar behaviour—jumping on surfboards and scaring surfers. It’s not clear if this is the same otter, as Otter 841 no longer wears a tracking tag.

Wildlife experts remind everyone to keep a safe distance from marine animals, no matter how cute they may look.

Article written by Shem Banbury - Kiwi Kids News Editor

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research, writing, and proofreading.
The te reo Māori version of this article was translated with AI assistance. While care has been taken to keep it accurate, if you spot anything that doesn't read quite right, please let us know

Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

After a storm, rubbish washed onto the local beach near Ōhope. A group of students decided to help with a clean-up before the weekend visitors arrived. They collected plastic bottles, food wrappers, and broken fishing line, sorting everything into bins and recycling bags. Although the work was slower than they expected, the students noticed that the beach looked much better by the end of the morning. Their teacher said the activity was not just about tidying up; it was also about protecting wildlife and showing responsibility for the environment. The students left tired, but they were pleased that their effort would make the beach safer and cleaner for everyone.

What is the main idea of this passage?

The students found many different kinds of rubbish on the beach. The teacher reminded students to sort rubbish into different bins. Weekend visitors were expected to arrive at the beach. Students organised a beach clean-up to protect the environment and improve the area.