killing a sea otters were males .
this article is over 2 years old bodies of four male sea otters , a federally protected animal whose killing can be punishable with jail time , washed up on beaches over course of eight days federal and state officials are investigating the shooting deaths of california sea otters , after the bodies of four male otters were found washed up on beaches near santa cruz .
southern sea otters , also known as california sea otters , once were plentiful along the pacific coast from mexico to washington .
a fourth dead otter washed up at natural bridges state beach in santa cruz , but rangers were unable to determine , because of its deteriorated condition , whether it had been shot .
in 1977 , california ’s remaining sea otters were listed as “ threatened ” under the endangered species act .
hunt on for killer of sea otters found shot near santa cruz photo : paul sakuma associated press in this may 8 , 2007 file photo , an southern sea otter cleans itself ... park rangers are offering a $ 10,000 reward to get their hands on whoever shot and killed three endangered southern sea otters in the santa cruz area .
 
a fourth otter carcass was discovered on 20 august with a suspected gunshot wound , ashley spratt of the fish and wildlife service said on wednesday .
on monday , the us fish and wildlife service announced a $ 10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for killing three sea otters that were found between 12 - 19 august .