SANTA CRUZ >> Three California sea otters have been found shot to death in the Santa Cruz area in recent weeks, and authorities are offering a $10,000 for anyone with information about the crime.

The three southern sea otters, two male adults and one younger male, were found dead between the Santa Cruz harbor and Seacliff State Beach in Aptos between Aug. 12 and 19.

Animal autopsies, known as necropsies, found that all three had gunshot wounds and died days, or weeks, before washing ashore.

Southern sea otters are protected as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act. They are also protected under Marine Mammal Protection Act and by California state law. Killing a southern sea otter is punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and jail time.

Southern sea otters were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1977. The fuzzy mammals, defacto mascots of Monterey Bay, have grown slowly in number, but have not recovered their historic range or population size.

Otters occasionally have been shot over the past few decades in California.

Last November, a 71-year-old Moss Landing man, Richard Niswonger, was sentenced to 150 hours of community service, a $500 fine and six months of probation after he shot an air rifle at a wailing baby sea otter. He told authorities that the otter had been crying for weeks and he was tired and annoyed of hearing it.

Niswonger, who was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Jose, did not hit the animal or harm it.

An investigation into this month’s case is being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, the state Department of Fish and Game and a private donor are contributing to the reward.

Anyone with information about sea otter shootings should contact the state wildlife crimes tip line at 1-888-334-2258 (callers may remain anonymous) or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 650-876-9078.

Authorities said Monday that anyone who finds a dead sea otter in Santa Cruz County should leave it in place, take a photo if possible, and report it immediately to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife at 831-212-7010.

Paul Rogers covers resources and environmental issues. Contact him at 408-920-5045. Follow him at Twitter.com/PaulRogersSJMN

SEA OTTER TIP LINE

SEA OTTER SHOOTING: Anyone with information about sea otter shootings should contact the state wildlife crimes tip line at 888-334-2258 (callers may remain anonymous) or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 650-876-9078.

IF YOU FIND A DEAD SE OTTER: leave it in place, take a photo if possible, and report it immediately to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife at 831-212-7010.