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Bonnie and Clyde. Ned Kelly. Jesse James. John Dillinger. These are just a few of history's most infamous thieves and robbers, whose legendary crimes have ensured their lasting legacy in the annals of true crime. But there's another master thief whose name should be on that list, and her name is... Sea Otter 841?
Despite its unconventional impersonality, Otter 841 is a name that strikes fear into the hearts of the people she preys upon: the surfers of Santa Cruz, California. After keeping a low profile over the winter, 841 is back for more trouble, and locals are taking note.
The last time 841 made headlines, @cbseveningnews reports, she had a new baby otter in tow- a potential mini-me to carry on her criminal legacy. After gaining infamy (and a sizable fandom) for stealing surboards from unlucky beachgoers in Santa Cruz, California, local wildlife officers tried time and time again to capture the criminal critter, to no avail. 841 popped up once more in October to show off her new otter pup as a final victory lap, then dropped off the radar... until now.
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Photographer Mark Woodward, who first captured 841's criminal crusade last summer, snapped the latest photos of the elusive otter over Memorial Day weekend, her numbered tag confirming her identity. Woodward found her feeding near some seaside cliffs in Santa Cruz , but despite the abundance of surfers around her, 841 didn't take the bait!
"She was being very respectful of the surfers," said Woodward- a surprise turn of behavior from the board-biting, surfer-scaring otter.
CBS News reporters noted experts' speculations that 841's aggressive behavior over the summer was spurred on by her pregnancy, and that she may have mellowed out since giving birth. But Woodward wasn't the only person to encounter 841 over Memorial Day weekend- and the other guy's story ain't quite so mellow.
A Return to Maritime Crime?
Enter Karl Anderle, a 69-year-old surfer who volunteered at a Santa Cruz surfing competition over Memorial Day weekend. Anderle told The Mercury News that he was on his surfboard enforcing the competition zone's boundaries when he turned around, only to come face to face with 841 sitting on the end of his board . Anderle's friend had had his surfboard stolen by 841 last summer, and Anderle knew all too well what he was dealing with as the infamous criminal began gnawing on the end of his board. Anderle tried to tip 841 off, but she stubbornly hung on.
"I'm going over in my mind what I should do," Anderle told The Mercury News . "I didn’t really want her to bite me. I didn’t want to be that guy fighting an otter in the middle of a surf contest. I had to maintain my cool.”
Anderle ultimately had no choice but to sit and watch as 841 chomped about a dozen punctures into his board over the course of 15 minutes. Fortunately, 841's ire never turned towards Anderle himself, and 841 eventually got board and swam away, tired of terrorizing for one day.
Was this latest surfboard assault a last hurrah for a retiring criminal, or does this simply mark 841's return to maritime crime after maternity leave? It may be too soon to tell, but if you happen to go surfing in Santa Cruz, stay far away from any otters you see, especially ones sporting a suspicious toe tag!
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