A river otter attacked a small child in a marina in the area of the American city of Seattle and dragged him into the water , before his mother could get him out, park officials said, the Associated Press reported, citing BTA.
The accident happened Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County. The child was in the water for several minutes, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said.
The otter continued to bite and scratch the child while the mother pulled him out of the water. The animal chased the mother and child as they left the dock, wildlife officials said. The injured child was treated in hospital.
„We are glad that the victim suffered only minor injuries, thanks to the quick actions of the mother and the agility of the child,” said an official.
Officers trapped the otter and took it to a lab to be tested for diseases, including rabies.
River otters are common throughout Washington State in both freshwater and saltwater habitats. Their contact with humans is rare, with only six in the last decade.
River otters can stick to a certain territory, but “like any animal in the wild, they are inherently unpredictable,” forest officials said.