A child in Washington was pulled off a dock into the water by a river otter before they were rescued by their mom.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement that the incident occurred Sept. 12 around 9:30 a.m. at the Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County.
The mother of the victim reported that when they were walking down the dock at the marina, a river otter pulled her young child into the water. The river otter then dragged the child under the water temporarily, but the child resurfaced after a few moments.
The victim’s mother was able to get to the child and lift them out of the water. While pulling the child out of the water, the river otter continued to attack the mother and bit her arm. The otter continued to pursue the family as they were leaving the dock, the department said in the statement.
In addition to the river otter biting the mother’s arm, the child had scratches and bites on the top of their head, face and legs. They were treated at a hospital in Silverdale, Washington.
“We are grateful the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the mother’s quick actions and child’s resiliency,” Ken Balazs, WDFW sergeant, said in the statement. “We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication to their marina tenants.”
The age of the victim has not been released.
One river otter was trapped at the scene and later taken to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab to be tested for rabies, the department said.
While otters may appear cute and cuddly, they are dangerous wild animals with «strong teeth and a powerful bite,» according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The department recommends staying at least 60 feet away from otters if they are spotted on land or at sea.
It’s rare for otters to attack humans. According to the WDFW, there have been six human-river otter incidents in Washington documented in the last decade.
In 2023, there were several otter attack incidents in California that reportedly led to injuries.
“Succession” actor Crystal Finn said she sought medical treatment after she was bitten by otters while swimming in a California river in July 2023.
Finn told The San Francisco Chronicle that she ultimately had to climb onto a rock for safety after she was continuously bit in the legs by the otters.
She was treated for her injuries at a hospital, with doctors telling the publication that they hadn’t encountered victims of otter attacks until that summer after two patients came in with similar injuries in July 2023.
Months later, a swimmer was attacked by otters at a California lake in September 2023.
Matt Leffers told KCRA, an NBC affiliate in Sacramento, California, that while he was swimming in the lake, he felt something bite his calf before he experienced another bite seconds later. He was rescued by his wife before he was taken to a hospital.
Due to the incident, his leg was badly cut and was covered in blood, leading to scars that remained for months.
“These things were so aggressive that, literally, I felt like they wanted to kill me,” Leffers said. “It is by far the most terrifying experience I’ve ever had in my life. Nothing even comes close.”
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
