Marine Biologist REACTS to Sea Otter Stealing Surfboards #shorts

#seaotter #kpassionate #shorts
I am a marine biologist who has worked with rescued sea otters for over a decade. Some of these otters were rescued after unsafe interactions with humans, similar to sea otter 841 - the sea otter stealing surfboards in Santa Cruz.

See my full reaction to this video, and what I think authorities should do about otter 841, here: https://youtu.be/zWrudu42Q9M

Efforts are underway to capture the sea otter because she has been deemed a risk to public safety. I think relocation is a possibility and might be what they’ll try first. The problem is that sea otters are not very migratory and are often very territorial. Relocation efforts rarely succeed as the otter will typically find its way back within a couple days.

People should avoid this sea otter at all costs and surf somewhere else. If you see the otter, head for the beach and wait until it leaves. Unfortunately, I’ve seen far too many people actively seek out this otter. This is a huge problem and something we see far too often. People are just getting way too close to wild animals.

The reality is many sea otters who are released have to be re-captured for various reasons. It is part of the process. And you never know unless you try! I also believe that the right thing to do is to probably capture her and relocate her to an aquarium. By all accounts, these encounters are getting more and more aggressive and it’s only a matter of time before she hurts someone or hurts herself.

Right now I think the right thing to do is relocate otter 841 to an aquarium. While removing any animal from the wild is a very difficult thing, it is what’s best for this animal. Sea otters under human care live longer and healthier lives. Ultimately, whether she is relocated or placed in a facility under human care, the fate of otter 841 will be determined by the marine biologists and marine mammal rehabilitation experts with the Department of Wildlife and the NOAA.

If she ends up in a facility, then maybe she’ll go on to be a surrogate mom contributing to the healthy reintroduction of stranded pups. Just like her mom, Millie.

Join the KPassionate channel to learn more about marine mammals and gain access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvSqEH92Fqn9uw1kmCfLGA/join
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out our Patreon to support the KPassionate channel! We provide early access to videos, your name in the credits of our videos, and bonus content!
→https://www.patreon.com/kpassionate
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Learn more about the amazing marine mammals that I work with: →https://www.youtube.com/c/KPassionate
Come chat with me live and ask your animal questions: →https://www.twitch.tv/kpassionate
Follow my social media for more marine mammal content:
→Twitter: https://twitter.com/kp_assionate
→Instagram: https://instagram.com/kp.assionate
→TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@k_passionate
Chat with my community here:
→https://discord.gg/YuuHNm2t2E
Buy Merch here:
→https://shop.kpassionate.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------