A sea otter who captured hearts and surfboards this past summer has become a mother, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
The sea otter, known as 841, rose to national prominence this past summer after reports and photos of an aquatic mammal harassing surfers and swimmers became national news. Now, she’s making headlines again as images of her floating on her back with a small otter lying on her belly are circulating.
Now that 841 has given birth, officials are emphasising that people should stay away from the duo.
“To help give sea otters and their pups the best chance at survival in the wild, it’s important for members of the public to give them space, especially when recreating on the water. Any attempts to approach from the water could be detrimental to the otter’s survival,” the FWS said in a 26 October statement.
In July, 841 gained a cult following for her unusual interactions with surfers and kayakers in the waters near Santa Cruz. No one knew what was behind her behaviors, but experts with the wildlife agency suspected that she could be dealing with hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy or people feeding her.……
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...-california-santa-cruz?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other