This picture taken by Heather VanNes shows a friendly sea otter after it jumped aboard a kayak piloted by her husband, John Koester, while both were kayaking near Moss Landing, Calif. The couple was celebrating Koester's birthday when the animal jumped in.

MOSS LANDING, Calif. — A friendly otter joined a couple celebrating a birthday in northern California by jumping into one of their kayaks and. making itself at home, rolling around and even nibbling on some shoes.

Heather VanNes said Wednesday she and her husband, John Koester, were celebrating his birthday Monday near Moss Landing and had just gotten in the water when they spotted a raft of otters.

They went by to watch them from a distance of at least 50 feet when one of the otters began swimming toward her husband’s kayak and jumped right onto it.

Koester said the otter plopped into the front of the boat, rolled around, scratched his belly and ears and nibbled on rope and his shoes.

He said it appeared the otter “was having a good time.”

Koester said the otter was at least 80 pounds and stayed on the kayak for at least 10 minutes. After Koester started paddling, the otter jumped back into the water.