The reward to find whoever is responsible for fatally shooting three sea otters off the Central Coast has been doubled to $20,000. Killing a Southern sea otter is punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and jail time, authorities said. “Once that happens, we’re calling on prosecutors to pursue this case to the fullest extent of the law.”Southern sea otters, also known as California sea otters, navigate the waters between San Mateo and Santa Barbara counties and the area around San Nicolas Island in Ventura County. “Shooting California sea otters is a despicable act of cruelty and ignorance,” Sakashita said. The initial $10,000 reward was put forward by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the state fish and wildlife agency and a private donor.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 01, 2016 23:43 UTC