Catch her if you can: viral surfboard-swiping otter is on the loose, and fans love it

I can't resist. Is the cheering for her misplaced? Will she be caught:

 

Her signature move has made her popular. She's owns all the boards that she gets near to!

 

It's her ocean:

 

I don't know how you start a thread about a "viral" sea otter, and not include any videos.

This is a different story, of "Sammy," the baby seal, in San Diego:






Here is the sea otter, who is operating much further north, in the Santa Cruz area. These creatures typically avoid humans. I saw one report which mentioned this incident, alongside mention of the Killer Whale story, from Spain, of their ramming boats. In both cases, the motivation is unknown, and has been speculated (of the whales) as being anything from "playing," to seeking revenge, for a boat propeller killing one of their family.




It should be noted that this sea otter bites chunks out of the boards that he commandeers, & that a sea otter bite, would be rather unpleasant.

The story below, however, I think offers a relevant clue: the sea otter had been raised in captivity because its mother had been captured, for exhibiting the same behavior.

 

Catch a Wave
by The Beach Boys

Catch a wave and you're sitting on top of the world
Don't be afraid to try the greatest sport around (Catch a wave, catch a wave)
Everybody tries it once
Those who don't just have to put it down
You paddle out turn around and raise
And baby that's all there is to the coastline craze
You gotta catch a wave and you're sittin' on top of the world

Not just a fad cause it's been going on so long (Catch a wave, catch a wave)
All the surfers going strong
They said it wouldn't last too long
They'll eat their words with a fork and spoon
And watch 'em they'll hit the road and all be surfin' soon
And when they catch a wave they'll be sittin' on top of the world

Catch a wave and your sittin' on top of the world
So take a lesson from a top-notch surfer boy (Catch a wave, catch a wave)
Every Saturday boy
But don't treat it like a toy
Just get away from the shady turf
And baby go catch some rays on the sunny surf
And when you catch a wave you'll be sittin' on top of the world
Catch a wave and you'll be sittin' on top of the world