A river otter dragged a child from a marina dock before pulling him underwater and biting him in a rare attack.The boy and his mother were walking along the dock at the Bremerton Marina in Washington State on Thursday when the animal attacked.The young boy was dragged underwater, resurfacing after a few moments. As his mother lifted him out of the water, the otter continued to attack and bit her on the arm.
The otter then continued to pursue the family as they left the marina, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
The child was scratched and bitten on the top of his head, face and legs and was treated for his injuries in hospital.
A river otter was trapped at the scene and was due to be taken to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab for further evaluation, including testing for rabies.
“We are grateful the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the mother’s quick actions and child’s resiliency,” said WDFW Sergeant, Ken Balazs.“We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication to their marina tenants.”
River otters can be found in fresh, brackish or saltwater habitats and are common throughout Washington.
The animal is classified as a furbearer in the state, meaning they are a game species which can be trapped.
The animals can be territorial and unpredictable.
The US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services works to “trap and lethally remove” river otters from the marina, the fish and wildlife agency said.
There have been six documented incidents between humans and river otters in Washington in the last decade, according to WDFW.
Three women were attacked in 2023 by an otter while floating down a river in Montana.
One of the women had “more serious” injuries and was airlifted to hospital.
“While attacks from otters are rare, otters can be protective of themselves and their young, especially at close distances. They give birth to their young in April and can later be seen with their young in the water during the summer,” the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said at the time.
“They may also be protective of food resources, especially when those resources are scarce.”
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