Why is the value of my variable being reset when changing scenes?

I have an object that in the start function it has DontDestroyOnLoad(theGO). Just before I change scenes I get a reference to a prefab and set it to creatureEncounteredGO, then change the scene. I have used the visual studios debug tool and confirmed it does set the variable to the proper value. But once I load into the new scene the value becomes null. I don't understand why though. I would greatly appreciate some help with this. Thanks in advance. Here is the code:

 public class scrPlayer : MonoBehaviour
 {
     [SerializeField] Camera playerView;
     [SerializeField] Transform groundObject;
     [SerializeField] GameObject playerCam;
 
     public float mouseSensitivity = 50f;
     public float speed = 6f;
     public float gravity = -9.81f;
     public float groundDistance = .4f;
     public LayerMask groundMask;
     public float jumpHeight = 1.5f;
 
     private GameObject creatureEncounteredGO;
     private float mouseX;
     private Vector3 velocity;
     private CharacterController controller;
     private bool isOnGround;
     private Vector3 preComabtLocation;
 
 
     // Start is called before the first frame update
     void Start()
     {
         if(SceneManager.GetActiveScene().Equals("FirstTown"))
             Cursor.lockState = CursorLockMode.Locked;
         controller = GetComponent<CharacterController>();
         DontDestroyOnLoad(transform.gameObject);
     }
 
     // Update is called once per frame
     void FixedUpdate()
     {
         if (gameObject.GetComponent<CharacterController>().enabled)
         {
             isOnGround = Physics.CheckSphere(groundObject.position, groundDistance, groundMask);
 
             if (isOnGround && velocity.y < 0 && !Input.GetButtonDown("Jump"))
                 velocity.y = -2f;
 
             mouseX += Input.GetAxis("Mouse X") * mouseSensitivity * Time.deltaTime;
 
             float x = Input.GetAxis("Horizontal");
             float z = Input.GetAxis("Vertical");
 
             this.transform.rotation = Quaternion.Euler(0, mouseX, 0);
 
             Vector3 move = transform.right * x + transform.forward * z;
             controller.Move(move * speed * Time.deltaTime);
 
             if (Input.GetButton("Jump") && isOnGround == true)
                 velocity.y = Mathf.Sqrt(jumpHeight * -2 * gravity);
 
             velocity.y += gravity * Time.deltaTime;
 
             controller.Move(velocity * Time.deltaTime);
         }
     }
 
     private void OnTriggerEnter(Collider other)
     {
         if (other.gameObject.CompareTag("OWCreature"))
         {
             preComabtLocation = transform.position;
             playerCam.SetActive(false);
             gameObject.GetComponent<CharacterController>().enabled = false;
             Cursor.lockState = CursorLockMode.None;
             creatureEncounteredGO = other.gameObject.GetComponent<scrOverWorldCreatures>().GetCreatureGO();
             Debug.Log($"Creature Encountered: {creatureEncounteredGO}");
             SceneManager.LoadScene("CombatScene");
         }
     }
 
     public GameObject GetEncounteredCreature()
     {
         return creatureEncounteredGO;
     }

and the code that tries to get this information

  GameObject encounteredCreature = playerGO.GetComponent<scrPlayer>().GetEncounteredCreature();
  GameObject enemyCreatureGO = Instantiate(encounteredCreature, enemySpot);