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 animal’s behaviour as “abnormal,” but says he is hopeful the situation can be resolved with the public's cooperation.
“We've seen this periodically in other sea otters, but it's not common,” he said. “It'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.
“These sea otters are wild animals; it can be quite aggressive, so we don't want those negative interactions … because it's not good for the animal and not good for people,” he said.
Signage has been erected in the area to warn visitors about the sea otter, and officers are visiting the area periodically to “check up on things,” says Cottrell.
“We don't want to habituate this sea otter any further to those types of interactions,” he said. “We want to extinguish that behaviour.”
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,” said Cottrell. “[Relocation] is not an option at this point, just logistically … 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.”
Dog owners are encouraged to keep their pets under control, preferably on a leash at all times.
“It seems to be attracted especially to dogs,” said Cottrell.
To help, Cottrell says visitors should report any sighting or interaction with the sea otter to the DFO’s 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 – which she has nicknamed ‘Whiffin’ – approached a dog on the shore of the spit, agrees pet owners should be on alert.
“People walking their dogs on the spit need to be very aware if ‘Whiffin’ is in the area and keep their dogs away from the edge of the water and certainly don’t let them in,” she said. “This sea otter moved very fast in the water and could do some serious damage to even a large dog.”
Similar to the recent scenes of the animal climbing onto a surfer’s board, 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.
“Given that it's a very similar area … and that animal had similar behaviours,” he said. “I think likely it’s the same animal, but we haven't confirmed that.
“I’ll 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.”
