World Otter Day – May 27

The otter who hijacks surfboards Something is happening at Steamer Lane, the famous surf break in Santa Cruz, California – and it is not what surfers signed up for. A sea otter has taken to swimming up to surfers, climbing on their boards, and simply refusing to leave. 

In October 2025, one surfer had her board held hostage for a full 20 minutes while lifeguards scrambled. The otter nipped her foot for good measure. Other incidents have followed, sometimes daily. 

Wildlife authorities suspect the culprit may be the legendary “Otter 841,” a local celebrity who rocketed to fame in 2023 for the same behavior before evading every capture attempt – including boats, nets, cages, and scuba divers. She was last spotted at a surfing contest in May 2024, where she climbed onto a volunteer’s board for 15 minutes and then slipped back into the ocean.