While out on a mission to catch fish, kayaker Kyle Borkes picked up a marine mammal hitchhiker. On a cloudy British Columbia day, a sea otter crawled on to Borkes’ kayak and took a nap; an incredible and adorable encounter caught on film.
Sea otter hitchhikes on kayak on Vancouver Island
Kyle Borkes of KC Kayak Fishing, a husband and wife duo based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, encountered the sea otter after wrapping up fishing for the day when the critter hopped up into his kayak!
“You’re not staying here forever,” Borkes warned the sea otter in the video. Not intimidated by Borkes’ warning, the otter proceeded to gnaw on some rods and reels, and shred the foam of the camera booms.
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“That’s like 400 bucks. That you’re eating,” Borkes tried to explain to the sea otter. Unbothered and not to be reasoned with, the otter took a nap.
“You’re a menace,” Borkes told the other, naming him Dennis. Eventually as Borkes made his way to shore, the otter washed off the back of the kayak and swam back out to sea, bringing an end to one of the cutest filmed wildlife encounters in British Columbia.
Sea otters in British Columbia
While the framing of the video makes it initially appear that Dennis the sea otter was brought out to sea from shore, the caption of the video assures viewers that was not the case: Dennis hopped onto Borkes’ kayak while he was still paddling and after he had finished fishing.
The caption also noted that sea otters and all marine mammals should be avoided when paddling, but when a marine mammal decides it would like to investigate you that can be a challenge. Borkes explained that he tried for 20 minutes to get the otter out of his kayak before opting to head back to shore.
“Don’t harass the wildlife? What if the wildlife is harassing me?” one commenter joked.
According to Discover Vancouver Island, there are about 5000 sea otters in British Columbia, most often seen in kelp beds. Sea otters are larger than their cousins river otters, and are distinct in their short tails and fluffy fur as well as size. Additionally, sea otters are rarely seen on land.
Marine wildlife is protected in British Columbia by the Species at Risk Act, and Marine Mammal Regulations under the Fisheries Act; it is against the law to disturb a marine mammal.
