Reward Doubles In Shooting Deaths Of Sea Otters Along Coast

BAY AREA, CA – Officials with the Center for Biological Diversity have added another $10,000 to the reward for the capture and conviction of the person or persons responsible for shooting at least three southern sea otters found dead last month along the shore in Santa Cruz County.

“Shooting California sea otters is a despicable act of cruelty and ignorance,” said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans program director at the Center. “These shootings aren’t just a crime against these otters but against nature and, indeed, all of those who value California’s stunning beauty and wildlife.”

Between Aug. 12 and Aug. 19, wildlife officials found three dead otters near the water between Santa Cruz Harbor and Seacliff State Beach in Aptos.

Another otter was found dead Aug. 20 with a suspected gunshot wound.

The first $10,000 is being offered through the Monterey Bay Aquarium, state Department of Fish and Wildlife and a private donor.

Investigators believe that the first three otters, all male, were shot sometime in late July or early August. One otter was an adult and the two others were subadult.

A person found responsible for killing a Southern sea otter faces a maximum fine of $100,000 and possible time in jail, according to wildlife officials.

Sea otters were once nearly extinct when they were hunted along the West Coast for their pelts. They are now protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act as well as state law,
wildlife officials said.

Anyone with information about the sea otter shootings is asked to call the CalTIP line at (888) 334-2258. Callers can be anonymous. People with information can also call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (650)
876-9078.

Anyone who finds a dead sea otter is asked to leave it where they found it, take a photo if possible and immediately call the state Department of Fish and Wildlife at (831) 212-7010.

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--Bay City News contributed to this report/File photo of Southern sea otters via California Department of Fish and Wildlife