A river otter dragged a child on a dock underwater and viciously attacked the mother who intervened in the near-drowning.
Cops responded to a ‘human-otter incident’ at the Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County shortly before 9.30am on Thursday, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
The mother who called for help said they were walking on a dock when the otter pulled her young child into the water for several moments.
When the child resurfaced, the mom managed to lift the victim out of the water but the otter ‘continued to attack and was subsequently bit in the arm’, stated WDFW on Friday.
‘The river otter continued to pursue the family as they left the dock,’ the agency said.
First responders transported the child to Silverdale hospital to be treated for bites and scratches on the head, face and legs.
‘We are grateful the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the mother’s quick actions and child’s resiliency,’ said WDFW Sgt Ken Balazs.
‘We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication to their marina tenants.’
Following the animal attack, the US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services trapped a river otter at the scene. It was taken to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab to test for rabies and other evaluations.
Bremerton Marina is west of Seattle across Elliot Bay.
There have been six river otter attacks on humans in the state over the past decade.
River otters, or Lontra canadensis, are common in the Evergreen State in fresh, saltwater and brackish habitats. They spend most of their time in the water but can be outside of it for extended periods.
‘Although encounters with river otters are rare, they can be territorial and, like any wildlife, are inherently unpredictable,’ stated WDFW.
The child and mother escaped from the rogue otter more than a year after a Montana woman who was tubing with friends on the Jefferson River had her ear bitten off in another rare otter attack.
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