A notoriously aggressive otter known for attacking surfers by chomping on their surfboards has given birth to an adorable new pup.
Otter 841 was caught by photographer Mark Woodward Wednesday while swimming around Santa Cruz, California, with her new pup on her chest.
The otter was known to attack surfers and biting their boards.
Woodward, who goes by Santa Cruz Native on X, said he noticed a few weeks ago that she had an “increased belly size” and suspected she might be pregnant.
The otter’s aggressive behavior toward surfers could be explained by her pregnancy, experts said.
The Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office told the LA Times that “hormonal surges related to pregnancy have been known to cause aggressive behavior in female southern sea otters.”
“Once I realized it was her, I kind of let out a little shrike. I said, ‘WOW!’ and then I felt myself actually starting to get a little emotional,” he told KMPH. “I kind of feel like a little proud, papa.”
The mother and her new pup have been swimming around in the bay. While 841 hunts for food, she leaves her baby floating on the surface to dive down.
Woodward cautions otter fans from approaching the new mother and advises everyone to stay at least 150 feet back.
“No one should use a kayak, paddleboard or anything else to get close to them. This is a critical time for 841 and pup, observe them from the cliffs only!” he wrote on X.