Sea Otter Climbs Onto Surfer’s Board in B.C., Prompting Safety Warning

A wild sea otter repeatedly approached surfers near Vancouver Island, leading officials to remind the public to avoid interactions with marine mammals.

A sea otter off the coast of Sooke, British Columbia, climbed onto a surfboard and followed surfers for over an hour on December 28, 2024.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada emphasized that wild sea otters can behave unpredictably, carry diseases, and may bite if they feel threatened.
Surfers attempted to avoid the otter, which swam after them and occasionally floated nearby, prompting reminders to report such interactions to authorities.
Experts suggested the otter might have been seeking refuge from predators, such as sea lions, which is unusual but not unheard of behavior for marine mammals.
Officials are monitoring the situation and may relocate the otter if further negative interactions are reported in the area.