Officials searching for person(s) responsible for skinning sea otter

Officials are asking for the public’s help after finding a southern sea otter dead and skinned.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are looking for information regarding the death of the otter and the illegal removal of its pelt in late September.

The sea otter was found dead and skinned on Arroyo de la Cruz Beach in San Simeon on September 26th. Southern sea otters are protected as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act and are considered depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. They are also protected by California state law. Killing a southern sea otter is punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and a possible jail sentence. Removal and subsequent possession of the pelt without a permit is also illegal, even if the sea otter was already dead when found.

Initial necropsy results indicate that the sea otter was a young adult female. The carcass had been skinned and the remains scavenged by animals and insects prior to collection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory is conducting a thorough examination to aid in the investigation.

Southern sea otters, also known as California sea otters, were listed as threatened in 1977. Southern sea otters once occurred in areas well outside of California, but currently range from San Mateo County in the north to Santa Barbara County in the south, with a small subpopulation around San Nicolas Island in Ventura County.

Anyone with information about this or any sea otter takings should contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at the CalTIP line at 1-888-334-2258 (callers may remain anonymous) or a Special Agent of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 916-569-8444.

Anyone who finds a dead or injured sea otter in California should leave it in place, take a photo if possible, and report it immediately to CDFW at 805-772-1135.