At the Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County, Washington, on Thursday, a child was dragged off the dock and pulled underwater in what the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said was a rare attack by an otter.
The otter reportedly pulled the young child underwater, while the child’s mother was with him on the dock. Seconds later, the otter surfaced, and the mother was able to pull her child to safety. The otter continued to attack and bit the mother’s arm. According to the press release by the fish and wildlife agency, the otter continued to chase the family as they ran off the dock.
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. It is strongly recommends people stay at least 60 feet away from otters if they are spotted on land or at sea.
The child was not seriously injured, although he had scratches and bites on his head, face and legs. He was taken to a hospital, treated and released.
One river otter was trapped at the scene. The animal is being transported to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab for further evaluation, including testing for rabies.
River otters are common throughout Washington, but encounters with the animals are rare, however they are known to be territorial, and like all wildlife can be deemed unpredictable. In the last decade, there have been six documented human-river otter incidents in Washington.
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