Mother Saves Child from River Otter Attack at Seattle Marina

NEWSLOOKS/ SEATTLE/ A river otter attacked a child at Bremerton Marina, Washington, dragging the youngster into the water. The mother swiftly rescued her child, preventing serious injuries. Wildlife officers trapped the otter for testing, and officials warned that while otter encounters are rare, they can be territorial and unpredictable.

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Mother Saves Child from River Otter Attack at Seattle Marina

River Otter Attacks Child at Seattle-Area Marina

A river otter attacked a young child at the Bremerton Marina near Seattle, dragging the child off a dock and into the water. The incident occurred at around 9:30 a.m., according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The child was briefly submerged before resurfacing, but the otter continued to bite and scratch as the child’s mother intervened. She managed to pull her child from the water, with the otter chasing them as they fled the dock. The child received medical treatment at a local hospital.

“We are grateful the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the mother’s quick actions and child’s resiliency,” said Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Ken Balazs. “We also thank the Port of Bremerton for their swift coordination with marina tenants.”

Wildlife officers captured the otter and transported it to a lab for disease testing, including rabies. No updates on test results were available as of Saturday.

River otters, which inhabit both fresh and saltwater environments, are common in Washington state. While human encounters are rare, officials said otters can be territorial and, like all wildlife, unpredictable. Only six such encounters have been recorded in the state over the past decade.

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