Free Republic

Marauding marine mammal makes cameo at contest, chews surfboardSurfer Karl Anderle knew just whom he was dealing with Saturday in Santa Cruz when he turned around and saw a large adult sea otter sitting on the back of his board: Otter 841, the notorious marine mammal whose surfboard-stealing and wave-riding rampage last summer captured the world’s attention. “I’m going over in my mind what I should do,” said Anderle, 69, who had been sitting up on his board at a surfing contest as a volunteer keeping non-competitors out of the competition zone. “I didn’t really want her to bite me....

Otter 841 is known as the elusive-surfboard stealing otter and she’s back to her old tricks, making her latest appearance in Santa Cruz, California during a surf contest Saturday. According to The Mercury News, Otter 841 is notorious among surfers after last summer’s wave-riding rampage, going after surfers and biting their surf boards. Surfer Karl Anderle says he was sitting on his board at the surfing contest as a volunteer, keeping non-competitors out of the competition zone. He says he tipped his board up, hoping she would hop off, but she scooted up and clung on so he decided he...

The infamous Otter 841, who gained international fame by harassing surfers and climbing on surfboards in the surf lineups in Santa Cruz, appears to have given birth. A photo of the possible mother and child was taken Tuesday by Mark Woodward, a local photographer whose been keeping tabs on Otter 841 since her rise to fame began. You can see the pup in the photo riding on top of 841's chest. Wildlife experts have yet to confirm the birth. Otter experts say the best way to help sea otters is to avoid getting too close to them and don't distract...

Otter 841 has quickly become a phenomenon ever since the viral video back in mid-June. Folks from around the world have made their way to West Cliff Drive to try and get a peak at Santa Cruz’s most wanted sea otter. "I'm up here visiting friends, but I have also heard about 841 and I thought I'd come up and see her in the wild,” said Peter Cresco, visiting from Los Angeles. The craze is turning into dollar signs for some choosing to capitalize on the otter’s popularity. Anything from shirts, jackets, and mugs can be found online with a...