In Bremerton, Washington, a river otter attacked a child at a marina, pulling the youngster into the water before the mother intervened, according to wildlife officials.
The incident took place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County, as reported by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers. The child was submerged underwater briefly but resurfaced during the encounter.
Despite the mother’s efforts to rescue the child, the otter continued to bite and scratch. The animal even pursued them as they left the dock, officials stated. The child received medical treatment at a hospital.
Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Ken Balazs expressed gratitude for the mother’s quick actions and the child’s resilience, emphasizing that the victim only suffered minor injuries. The Port of Bremerton was also commended for their swift coordination and communication with marina tenants.
The otter was captured by officers and sent to a disease diagnostic lab for testing, including for rabies. The agency anticipates receiving the disease testing results as early as next Tuesday.
While river otters are common in Washington and can be found in various habitats, encounters with humans are rare, with only six reported in the past decade. Officials warned that river otters can be territorial and unpredictable like any wildlife.
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