BREMERTON, Wash. — A child and their mother were attacked by a river otter at the Bremerton Marina Thursday morning.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), a woman and her young child were walking on a dock around 9:30 a.m. when the river otter pulled the child into the water. The woman said the child was underwater for a few moments before resurfacing.
WDFW officials say the otter kept attacking the woman while she pulled the child out of the water.
The child was treated at a hospital in Silverdale for scratches and bite wounds to the head, face and legs. The woman was bit on the arm.
“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 said in a prepared statement. “We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication to their marina tenants.”
According to WDFW, the otters in the marina will be "trapped and lethally removed" by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, then tested for rabies.
River otter attacks are rare, and WDFW officials advise against instigating any close encounters. There have been six documented human-river otter incidents in Washington state in the last decade.
"When we do see this on the rare occasion that it does occur, it's for territoriality or protecting its pups. If it's a female, protecting its pups," said Matt Blankenship with the WDFW.
And while many think of them as cute, curious creatures, they can cause serious injuries.
Jen Royce, who lives in Bozeman, Montana, was attacked by a river otter last summer. The damage was extensive.
"I had really large bite wounds on each cheek. A really big gash on this left side of my eye here.. luckily it didn't get my eye.. it bit through my nose," Royce said.
She wants to urge others to be cautious around the animal.
"My main goal is to spread awareness. I don't want people to go out and kill otters. That's not what this is about. It's about trying to be more prepared in nature," Royce said. "Not to let your guard down and hopefully, if someone learns something from my story. I feel like that's why I'm still here."