River otter attacks child in Washington and drags him underwater

A child in Washington was dragged from a dock into the water by an otter before being rescued by his mother.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement that the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on September 12 at the Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County.

The victim's mother reported that an otter pulled her young child into the water as they were walking along the marina dock. The otter then pulled the child under water temporarily, but after a few moments the child resurfaced.

The victim's mother was able to reach the child and lift him out of the water. While pulling the child out of the water, the otter continued to attack the mother, biting her on the arm. The otter continued to pursue the family as they left the dock, the department's statement said.

In addition to the otter biting the mother on the arm, the child had scratches and bites on her head, face and legs. She was treated at a hospital in Silverdale, Washington.

“We are grateful that the victim suffered only minor injuries thanks to the mother's quick actions and the child's resilience,” WDFW Sergeant Ken Balazs said in the statement. “We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication with the marina tenants.”

The age of the victim was not disclosed.

An otter was caught on site and later taken to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab to be tested for rabies, the agency said.

Otters may seem cute and cuddly, but according to the U.S. Department of the Interior, they are dangerous wild animals with “strong teeth and a powerful bite.” The department recommends staying at least 60 feet away from otters if they are spotted on land or in the sea.

It is rare for otters to attack humans. According to WDFW, six incidents between humans and river otters have been documented in Washington over the past decade.

In 2023, there were several otter attacks in California that reportedly resulted in injuries.

“Succession” actress Crystal Finn said she sought medical treatment after being bitten by otters while swimming in a California river in July 2023.

Finn told the San Francisco Chronicle that she eventually had to climb a rock for protection after being repeatedly bitten on the legs by the otters.

Her injuries were treated at a hospital. Doctors told the publication that they had not experienced any victims of otter attacks until this summer, after two patients were admitted with similar injuries in July 2023.

Months later, in September 2023, a swimmer was attacked by otters in a California lake.

Matt Leffers told KCRA, an NBC affiliate in Sacramento, California, that while swimming in the lake, he felt something bite him on the calf before feeling another bite seconds later. He was rescued by his wife and taken to a hospital.

The incident left him with severe cuts to his leg that were covered in blood and left scars that lasted for months.

“These things were so aggressive that I literally felt like they wanted to kill me,” Leffers said. “This is by far the most horrific experience I've ever had in my life. Nothing comes close to this.”

This article was originally published on TODAY.com.