The marine mammal showed no signs of stress or injury and enjoyed the trip back to shore
Although they are known to spend their entire lives at sea, one lazy sea otter decided he needed a break from life on the water and hitched a ride on the paddleboard of a surprised Sooke woman.
Joanie Paquin was out on a paddleboard with her sister, exploring the waters off a beach in Sooke, when the furry visitor decided to climb aboard.
“At first I thought it had run away from predators, but it showed no signs of stress, distress or injury,” Paquin said. “It was just happy to be cute and to have a ride.”
“It is an encounter that I will remember and cherish,” she added.
Although it was an unforgettable experience, she and her sister were nervous about being so close to a wild animal.
Paquin kept as much distance as possible from the otter and steered the paddleboard back to shore so that she and her sister could get out and give the animal room to return to the water.
“Otters can be vicious and we must remember that they are wild animals,” Paquin said.
“As magical and precious as the moment was, I would never encourage such encounters,” she continued. “Wildlife should remain wild. It’s important to enjoy wildlife from a distance and leave them alone.”
Lara Sloan, communications consultant at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, agreed, pointing out that sea otters are listed as a “particularly endangered species” under the Species at Risk Act.
“Observing marine mammals in their natural environment helps us better appreciate these beautiful animals,” Sloan said. “When humans get too close to wildlife in their habitat, we risk disturbing and even harming them. Marine mammal laws and policies are in place to protect their well-being and yours.”
