Officials are warning swimmers and surfers in California to be aware as capture efforts are underway for a sea otter that has been acting aggressively toward humans, according to local reports.
An otter at Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz, on the coast of central California, was showing signs of aggressive behavior toward surfers, KTVU in Oakland reported.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told the station in a statement it was aware of the otter “exhibiting concerning and unusual behaviors,” and that trained marine wildlife experts from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium are working together to capture the animal.
The female sea otter is about 5 years old, KSBW reported via wildlife officials. It was born in captivity after her mother was removed from the wild for aggressive behavior toward people as a result of being fed.
After she was born, she was tagged at release and was continually monitored.
KTVU reported that wildlife officials intervened in 2022 when the otter first began interacting with humans.
There have been no confirmed reports of injuries caused by the sea otter.
USA TODAY has reached out to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for more information.
