Remain Otterly Ungovernable

May 30, 2024 10:19 PM

Last summer, the California coast had an unusual threat for surfers in the form of Otter 841, who had a passion for stealing surfboards while evading the authorities. With the start of the 2024 season, Otter 841 is back, and just as ready to cause havok as she was last year.
posted by NoxAeternum (22 comments total)

the sea will rise!
posted by bombastic lowercase pronouncements at 11:49 PM on May 30 [2 favorites]

Wen I first saw an article about an otter stealing surfboards I did wonder how such a small creature could do that, but seeing that picture I realise that a sea otter is very much bigger than the (few) otters we have here in the UK . Good luck to you Otter 841!
posted by Fuchsoid at 12:27 AM on May 31 [2 favorites]

I didn’t want to be that guy fighting an otter in the middle of a surf contest.
Yeah, no one wants to be that guy.
posted by pracowity at 2:23 AM on May 31 [6 favorites]

Otter 841 ("Laverna") has her own Wikipedia page.
posted by pracowity at 3:52 AM on May 31 [3 favorites]

Go Laverna go!
posted by humbug at 4:47 AM on May 31 [2 favorites]

pracowity, I read the article, copied the same line and popped in here to make almost the same comment. Well done and also *shakes fist in your general direction*
posted by martin q blank at 5:27 AM on May 31 [1 favorite]

People otter watch out.
posted by stltony at 5:29 AM on May 31

She misses people and likes the attention, maybe.
posted by subdee at 6:16 AM on May 31

Dear Otter 841:
Your ideas are intriguing to us and we would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Sincerely,
The Orcas
posted by The Bellman at 7:17 AM on May 31 [11 favorites]

Between the otters and the orcas, it's clear marine mammals have had quite enough of our shit.
posted by tommasz at 7:33 AM on May 31 [3 favorites]

Is that tracking tag on the bottom of her flipper? Why would anybody tack anything to that area of of her body? We all know how uncomfortable it is to walk when you've got a pebble in your shoe or a blister on your foot. Don't think they a tag would be equally uncomfortable? No wonder she wants to grab a seat on a board. It's not like she'd get far walking, and I'm sure she gets tired of all that swimming. Sometimes she must just want to sit down and take a break on something that is drier than the ocean but that doesn't force her to walk on her tagged appendage.
posted by sardonyx at 7:56 AM on May 31 [1 favorite]

Laverna says no Barneys, no Bennys
posted by srboisvert at 8:04 AM on May 31

I realise that a sea otter is very much bigger than the (few) otters we have here in the UK

According to the internets, sea otters can be 5 feet long / 1.5 meters long and 100lbs / 45kg, so the size of a small human or large dog -- which surprised me too!
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:25 AM on May 31

so the size of a small human or large dog -- which surprised me too!

Or the average female Olympic gymnast.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 8:47 AM on May 31 [1 favorite]

Do unto otters as you would have otters do unto you.

(With apologies to Mr T Pratchett)
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 8:50 AM on May 31 [2 favorites]

I realise that a sea otter is very much bigger than the (few) otters we have here in the UK

Also, USA folks, if you're thinking of the playful little guys you might have seen in zoos or aquariums, you're likely thinking of river otters. Sea otters are two to three times the size of river otters, which is, you know, a lot! A lotta otter.
posted by The Bellman at 9:12 AM on May 31 [2 favorites]

Let's not write the humble river otter off, they can become ungovernable as well.
posted by turbowombat at 9:40 AM on May 31 [2 favorites]

When there's a clash between people and other animals, they should just post warnings for people ("Otters bite!" etc.) and leave the other animals alone.
posted by pracowity at 11:17 AM on May 31

Sardonyx, sea otters can hobble about on land but are considered fully aquatic, so it's unlikely the tag bothers her much at all.
posted by advicepig at 11:49 AM on May 31 [1 favorite]

River otters are the size of Maine Coons and are very aggressive. And very messy eaters. Sea Otters are small bears that swim. I’ve had sea otters on the back of my kayak and they were pretty chill. If they hadn’t been chill I would have been out of a kayak
posted by pdoege at 12:30 PM on May 31 [3 favorites]

Ctrl+F "626"

*sigh*

Otter 841, I'd like you to meet Experiment 626.
posted by howbigisthistextfield at 3:51 AM on June 1 [2 favorites]

So long and thanks for all the surfboards

...suckas
posted by DeepSeaHaggis at 11:47 PM on June 1