Horror erupted at a Washington marina when a territorial river otter pulled a boy off a dock and dumped him into the water.
The unnamed boy, who was walking with his mother on the pier, was suddenly dragged by a river otter in a rare attack at Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County on Sept. 12.
The mother bravely fought to get her son out of the water once they surfaced.
But the otter didn’t stop and bit the boy on the arm as he was being lifted into the air. The otter continued to chase them along the dock until they were out of danger.
The child has scratches and bites on the top of the head, face and legs, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife saying.
A boy, who was walking with his mother on the pier, was suddenly dragged by a river otter in a rare attack at Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County on September 12 (file image)
The mother bravely fought to free her son, but he still had scratches and bite marks on the top of his head, face and legs, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reported. Pictured: Bremerton Harborside Marina in Bremerton, Washington
The boy and mother were not identified, but the boy was reportedly treated for his injuries at a Silverdale hospital.
WDFW Sgt. Ken Balazs said, “We are grateful that the victim only suffered minor injuries, due to the quick actions of the mother and the resilience of the child.
‘We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their prompt coordination and communication with their marina tenants.’
The river otter was captured and euthanized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Service. Its remains were taken to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Washington for testing, including for rabies. Fox 13 Seattle reported.
According to the WDFW, there have been six documented river otter attacks in Washington over the past decade.
River otters are common throughout Washington. Although encounters with them are rare, they can be territorial and unpredictable.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Service captured and euthanized the river otter (file image)
The attack comes three months after California beachgoers ran screaming and crying after being attacked by a protective sea lion.
Lauren Bertrand was visiting La Jolla Cove in San Diego on June 23 when she captured the footage of the angry sea lion.
Before attacking the bathers, the marine mammal was swimming in the area with its pups. The sea lion almost collided with a bather before swimming away, leaving the humans unharmed.
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