Visitors to Whiffin Spit in Sooke are being urged by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to keep their distance from an overly curious sea otter.

In recent weeks the marine mammal has been seen trying to interact with surfers at the tourist spot, climbing several times onto a surfboard.

It was also observed approaching a dog in the water and on shore on Jan. 5.

Paul Cottrell with DFO's Marine Mammal Response, has described the animalB次元官网网址檚 behaviour as B次元官网网址渁bnormal,B次元官网网址� but says he is hopeful the situation can be resolved with the public's cooperation.

B次元官网网址淲e've seen this periodically in other sea otters, but it's not common,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t's in an area where there are not many other sea otters, so it may be just curious and looking for those interactions."

Cottrell says officers are monitoring the situation and are hopeful the animal can be discouraged from interacting with visitors at the Spit.

B次元官网网址淭hese sea otters are wild animals; it can be quite aggressive, so we don't want those negative interactions B次元官网网址� because it's not good for the animal and not good for people,B次元官网网址� he said.

Signage has been erected in the area to warn visitors about the sea otter, and officers are visiting the area periodically to B次元官网网址渃heck up on things,B次元官网网址� says Cottrell.

B次元官网网址淲e don't want to habituate this sea otter any further to those types of interactions,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e want to extinguish that behaviour.B次元官网网址�

If the situation persists, the DFO will look at other options, including relocating the sea otter as a last resort.

"It's not easy to capture a free-range sea otter,B次元官网网址� said Cottrell. B次元官网网址淸Relocation] is not an option at this point, just logistically B次元官网网址� but we may have to look at those options if things continue and we see any issues around the potential danger to the animal or the public.B次元官网网址�

Dog owners are encouraged to keep their pets under control, preferably on a leash at all times.

B次元官网网址淚t seems to be attracted especially to dogs,B次元官网网址� said Cottrell.

To help, Cottrell says visitors should report any sighting or interaction with the sea otter to the DFOB次元官网网址檚 24-hour Observe, Record, Report line at 1-800-465-4336, or email DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Wildlife photographer and former district councillor Kerrie Reay, who captured the moment the sea otter B次元官网网址� which she has nicknamed B次元官网网址榃hiffinB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� approached a dog on the shore of the spit, agrees pet owners should be on alert.

B次元官网网址淧eople walking their dogs on the spit need to be very aware if B次元官网网址榃hiffinB次元官网网址� is in the area and keep their dogs away from the edge of the water and certainly donB次元官网网址檛 let them in,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his sea otter moved very fast in the water and could do some serious damage to even a large dog.B次元官网网址�

Similar to the recent scenes of the animal , a sea otter was filmed hitching a lift with a Sooke paddle-boarder in August 2024.

Cottrell says they were also monitoring the paddle-boarding sea otter, and he suspects the two animals could be one and the same.

B次元官网网址淕iven that it's a very similar area B次元官网网址� and that animal had similar behaviours,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think likely itB次元官网网址檚 the same animal, but we haven't confirmed that.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l add that the surfers did exactly the right thing when they discouraged those interactions. That's what we want to discourage, any interactions with people.B次元官网网址�