A chilling new video shows an otter stalking a family on a dock before brutally attacking a toddler and dragging him into the water.
Surveillance footage shows a mother walking briskly along the dock with her children in tow before they ran as an otter chased them around 9:30 a.m. at Bremerton Marina on Sept. 12.
The otter grabbed one of her children and dragged him underwater, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) said, according to KIRO 7.
The little otter can be seen appearing on the dock right behind the family and running after the family of four.
Moments later, the otter would attack the mother and one of her children before dragging the child underwater while crying. The mother fought bravely to pull her son out of the water once they surfaced.
Surveillance footage shows a mother walking quickly along the dock with her children in tow before they ran as an otter chased them around 9:30 a.m. at Bremerton Marina on Sept. 12.
The little otter can be seen appearing on the dock right behind the family and running after the family of four. Moments later, the otter would attack the mother and one of her children before dragging the child underwater while crying.
But the otter was relentless and bit the boy on the arm as he was lifted into the air. The otter continued to chase them around the dock until they finally escaped.
The boy was taken to the hospital for treatment for bites and scratches to his face, head and legs, according to KIRO 7 and WDFW.
A WDFW spokesperson said otters generally leave humans alone unless they are territorial to protect their pups. It is not clear if this animal had offspring nearby.
The otter, which was trapped and killed, is now being tested for rabies, according to KIRO 7.
WDFW Sergeant Ken Balazs said, “We are grateful that the victim only suffered minor injuries, due to the mother’s quick actions and the child’s resilience.”
“We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their prompt coordination and communication with their marina tenants.”
The boy was taken to the hospital for treatment for bites and scratches to his face, head and legs.
A WDFW spokesperson said otters generally leave humans alone unless they are territorial to protect their pups. It is not clear if this animal had offspring nearby.
According to WDFW, six river otter attacks have been documented in Washington over the past decade.
River otters are common throughout Washington. Although encounters with river otters are rare, they can be territorial and unpredictable.
This attack comes three months after California beachgoers ran screaming and crying after a protective sea lion attacked them.
Lauren Bertrand was visiting La Jolla Cove in San Diego on June 23 when she captured the images of the angry sea lion.
Before attacking bathers, the marine mammal was swimming around the area with its babies. The sea lion almost came face to face with a swimmer before swimming away, leaving the humans unharmed.