A young child is currently recovering after a river otter at a marina in Washington state dragged them underwater and caused injuries, officials reported Thursday.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the incident occurred on Thursday morning at Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County. The child and their mother were walking down a dock when the otter pulled the child into the water and dragged them underwater. The mother was able to quickly rescue the child, who sustained scratches and bites to the head, face, and legs. Fortunately, the injuries were minor due to the mother’s swift actions.
The otter continued to attack as the family fled down the dock. Authorities have contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to remove the otters from the marina, where they will be evaluated and tested for rabies.
River otter encounters with humans are rare, with only six incidents reported in the past decade in Washington state. However, otter attacks can result in more severe injuries, as seen in a recent incident in Montana where a woman had to be airlifted to a hospital after being attacked by a river otter.
In addition to posing a threat to humans, river otters can also harm pets, as demonstrated by incidents in Florida where otters bit a man and a dog on the same day.
