SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - An aggressive sea otter in Santa Cruz’s famous Steamer Lane is accused of stealing a surfer’s board and prompting an emergency rescue response.

The sea otter caused quite a stir on the evening of Oct. 15 when Santa Cruz fire officials said they responded to a report of a surfer who was possibly bitten by an otter.

What we know:

Lifeguards that first arrived on scene said they found a surfer in the water "and an otter who appeared to be sitting on the victim's board," the fire department shared on Facebook .

Local photographer Mark Woodward captured images from the otter encounter.

He said that once marine safety officer Ben Coffey with the fire department got the surfer, identified as Bella, back on her board, they started paddling back to shore.

"But the s

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