Wildlife officials are seeking the public’s help after four adult otters were found dead on the side of Old Adobe Road between Scott Road and Tunzi Road, according to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue. The incident occurred on the east side of Petaluma.
In a social media post, the organization described the circumstances as “unusual” and said it is working to determine whether the otters were struck by a vehicle at the location or if they were moved there from another area.
“We’re reaching out to our community for help regarding a troubling discovery,” the post read. “We’re asking anyone who may have seen these otters—alive or deceased—to reach out with any information that could help.”
Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue is urging anyone with details to text 707-486-0226. The organization emphasized that all information will be kept completely anonymous.
Both river and sea otters are now protected under federal and/or state law. Harming them can lead to hefty fines and/or jail time
So they are sea otters as opposed to River (fresh water) otters. I hope they do necropsies to confirm or deny it is consistent with a vehicle, as opposed to shot or clubbed. Sure looks like they were dumped.
These are river otters, not sea otters. I’m not sure why the author brought up sea otters, they may not have been aware of the difference. You can tell the difference by the body shape and tail shape.
Looking at the photos, they were definitely North American River Otters (Lontra canadesis). If you would like to learn more about this species, please check out http://www.riverotterecology.org
“Once hunted to near extinction, sea otters are now protected” so the article seems to imply they are sea otters, but much more likely they are river otters that were traveling together, got hit, and maybe that is blood stain on the road, and a driver stopped and moved them to the side.
(please delete my previous comment which assumed they were sea otters as the wording seemed to say.)
I did some research online regarding river otters’ competition with fisheries and found a recent blog started by someone owning a pond (not necessarily in Sonoma County or even California). The Santa Rosa Press Democrat ran this story on otters today with more details, and the otters were bludgeoned in the head, skulls crushed. They had no other injuries, according to the PD. The last entry in the online blog mentioned having their pond fish eaten by otters and said he or she had a large pile of stones available to throw at the otters. Not saying AT ALL it was this person, but someone could have killed these otters this way, I guess. Does NOT sound like hit and run!
Yep. Some jerk couldn’t sit peacefully and watch otters fish cause HE wanted to sit peacefully and fish so instead he f-ing decided to let violence roar and club a mom and babies.
Men need an outlet for violence or something, or maybe some medication. I mean we have meds for hysterical women, why not testosteral men?
I’ve seen families of them running down the road by the Navarro River.