Death of iconic otter brings safety changes to Moss Landing Harbor

“Now I look every day and see if there is an otter in that area,” Moss Landing Harbor Master Linda McIntyre said.

One to replace an otter named Mr. Enchilada, a popular fixture that used to frequent the areas restaurants but was killed by a car while crossing Moss Landing Road in July.

“What happens is they swim from the harbor through some pipes that are open during the day, so they swim through the pipes, and then the tides come in and there is a tide gate that closes, then they can’t get back, so then he came up over the road and got run over,” said Benny Young with Monterey County Resource Management.

“He was probably lumbering across the road and somebody was, you know, it’s dark, somebody was coming around the corner and didn’t see him,” McIntyre said.

Not only was the otter a harbor favorite, but the animal’s population is also threatened as an endangered species, so protecting them is crucial.

Since then, the Monterey County Public Works office has been busy making safety changes.

It began with warning and speed limit signs.

“If the animals, they can’t be reasoned with, are going to use that path to do their forging. Then, I guess we as reasoning humans have to figure out a way to try to avoid giving them greater harm,” McIntyre said.

And now, a cross walk covers the road, not just for otters, but also those hoping to catch a glimpse of one.

“We had a lot of people when the otter was a resident there, previously, who would stop there, get out of their car, take pictures, wander back and forth across the road. So we are hoping it will also improve safety for pedestrians,” Young said.

“I think it was just yesterday, I saw one rolling around over there, and eventually, some male will probably come stake it out again, make it his little territory,” McIntyre added.

Monterey County Public Works is still in touch with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and other groups to see if additional fencing is needed.