$7,500 Reward For Arrest & Conviction Of Sick Individual Who Tortured & Killed Sea Otter In Washington

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has confirmed disturbing news that a federally protected sea otter was tortured and killed in February 2025 near Oyehut, Washington. Both the USFWS and Defenders of Wildlife are offering rewards for information that leads to an arrest, criminal conviction, or civil penalty in connection with this brutal act.

The male sea otter was discovered dead on a beach north of Oyehut. Authorities report that the animal suffered extensive bruising across its entire body and that its hind feet had been bound, clear signs of deliberate cruelty.

Sea otters are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits harassment, capture, or killing of these sentient beings. Violations of this federal law can carry significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

While Washington’s sea otter population has shown steady recovery, growing from just 59 individuals in 1969 to approximately 2,800 in 2019, the species remains far below its historic numbers. Once decimated by the commercial fur trade in the early 20th century, sea otters are still listed as threatened in Washington State and identified as a priority conservation species.

Sea otters play a vital role as a keystone species, helping to maintain the balance and health of coastal ecosystems. By controlling sea urchin populations, they enable kelp forests to thrive, ecosystems that, in turn, support marine biodiversity and help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

“Poaching is a serious crime against wildlife, our natural heritage and the communities who depend on our wild lands,” said Kristin Botzet, Northwest program representative for Defenders of Wildlife. “This particular incident was difficult to learn of due to the brutality behind it. We hope that the Service enforcement officers are able to find the perpetrator and that the individual is appropriately charged for this offense.”

Defenders of Wildlife is offering a $2,500 reward, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering $5,000 for information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators immediately by calling (808) 861-8525 or (844) FWS-TIPS, or by submitting a report through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s wildlife crime tip line HERE!