Horror erupted at a Washington marina when a child was dragged off of a dock and into the water by a territorial river otter.
The unnamed child, who was taking a stroll with his mother on the dock, was suddenly dragged off by a river otter in a rare attack at Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County on September 12.
The mother bravely fought back to get her child out of the water once they resurfaced.
But the otter was unrelenting and bit the child in the arm as they were lifted into the air. The otter continued to chase them down the dock until they were out of harm’s way.
The child has scratches and bites on the top of the head, face and legs, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife said.
The child and mother weren’t identified, but its reported the child was treated for their injuries at a Silverdale hospital.
The WDFW Sergeant, Ken Balazs, said: ‘We are grateful the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the mother’s quick actions and child’s resiliency.
‘We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication to their marina tenants.’
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services caught and euthanized the river otter. Its remains were brought to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab for testing, including for rabies, Fox 13 Seattle reported.
There have been six documented river otter attacks in Washington during the past decade, according to the WDFW.
River otters are common throughout Washington. Although encounters with river otters are rare, they can be territorial and unpredictable.
This attack follows three months after California beachgoers ran screaming and crying after a protective sea lion charged at them.
Lauren Bertrand was visiting La Jolla Cove in San Diego on June 23 when she captured the footage of the angry sea lion.
Prior to its attack on beachgoers, the marine mammal was swimming around the area with its babies. The sea lion nearly came face to face with one swimmer before it swam away, leaving the humans unhurt.