Congrats to Santa Cruz's Surfboard-Snatching Sea Otter on Becoming a Mom

Jade Eckardt
·2 min read
1

The surfboard-snatching sea otter called 841 who made headlines last summer for bothering California surfers gave birth to a beautiful baby pup earlier this week.

"On Wednesday afternoon, she was seen far off the Santa Cruz coast, rolling and spinning in the kelp and waves with a little otter pup on her belly," reported the Los Angeles Times

During the summer, 841 was frequenting Cowells Beach where she was hijacking surfboards, being aggressive towards surfers, and "acting overall erratically."

What sounded like a classic case of localism was really just pregnany-related hormonal changes.

The L.A. Times posted the story above yesterday, captioning it:

"Sea otter 841 — the surfboard-biting stealing mammal who became a national sensation this summer — has given birth to a fluffy baby pup.

"On Wednesday afternoon, she was seen far off the Santa Cruz coast, rolling and spinning in the kelp and waves with a little otter pup on her belly.

"The pup’s birth, which has yet to be officially confirmed by state and federal wildlife authorities, may explain 841’s unusually aggressive behavior toward multiple surfers — at least one who abandoned their board and saw it carted off by the slick-haired cousin of the skunk and weasel.

"The gestational period for otters is roughly six months, and during this period, hormonal changes can cause the animal to become aggressive, experts say. Photo credit: Gary Coronado"

While the science speaks for itself, other moms had 841's back and jumped to her defense in the comments below:

"Yaaaaa’lll her “erratic behavior?” I feel like this sea otter needs a feminist mom posse to get her back right now. She’s fine, move your surfboard."

"Even female otters get their behavior blamed on being too hormonal :("

"Aw sweet mama, I hope the best for her. (She's probably just sick of everyone's sh*t)"

***

Don't miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram, and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels.

Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos.