Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Forensics
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms Chevron right
Tropical rainstorm soaks Florida, could strengthen in Gulf before targeting Louisiana Chevron right

Columbus, OH

75°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

75°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Forensics

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

River otter drags child off dock and underwater in rare attack at Washington marina

The otter resurfaced and the mom rescued her child out of the water. But the animal continued to attack, biting the mother’s arm, according to a news release from the fish and wildlife agency.

By Rebekah Riess, CNN

Published Sep 16, 2024 7:42 AM EDT | Updated Sep 16, 2024 7:42 AM EDT

Copied

A river otter attacked a family at Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County, Washington, on September 14. (Photo credit: Aaron McCoy/The Image Bank RF/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)

(CNN) — A child was dragged off a dock and underwater in a rare attack by a river otter at a marina in Washington state on Thursday, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said.

The otter pulled the young child underwater with the mother still on the dock at Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County.

Moments later, the otter resurfaced and the mom rescued her child out of the water. But the animal continued to attack, biting the mother’s arm, according to a news release from the fish and wildlife agency.

The otter kept chasing the family as they tried to get off the dock. The child was left with scratches and bites on top of their head, as well as on their face and legs, and taken to a local hospital to be treated for the injuries, which officials described as minor.

Department of Fish and Wildlife Sergeant Ken Balazs praised “the mother’s quick actions and child’s resiliency.”

The US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services worked to trap and “lethally remove” any river otters from the marina. One river otter was trapped where the attacked happened and transported to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab to be evaluated and tested for rabies.

River otters are relatively common throughout Washington and can be found in fresh, brackish or saltwater habitats, according to the agency. “Although encounters with river otters are rare, they can be territorial and, like any wildlife, are inherently unpredictable,” the news release warned.

There have been six documented human-river otter incidents in Washington state in the last decade, according to wildlife officials.

Last year, three women were attacked by an otter while inner tubing down the Jefferson River in Montana. All three women received treatment for their injuries. One of the women had “more serious” injuries and was flown to a hospital via helicopter.

Read more:

US Coast Guard to begin public hearing today on the implosion of the Titan submersible
Bees swarm firefighters battling California vegetation fire
Stunning Northern Lights return tonight after dazzling US skies

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Death toll reaches 129 in Texas as new flash flood threat expands

Jul. 13, 2025
Weather Forecasts

Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms

Jul. 14, 2025
Weather News

The Deadliest Floods in Texas History: A State at Risk

Jul. 14, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms

8 hours ago

Weather News

Thunderstorms bring more flooding, evacuations to central Texas

9 hours ago

Hurricane

Tropical Rainstorm to drench Florida, Gulf Coast

3 hours ago

Weather News

Grand Canyon fires force closures

9 hours ago

Severe Weather

Wildfire smoke may follow storms, severe weather in eastern US

8 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Astronomy

Noctilucent clouds shimmer in summer sky

9 hours ago

Recreation

Yellowstone’s landscape shifts again with discovery of new hot pool

11 hours ago

Weather News

Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why?

3 days ago

Weather News

Giant shoes found spark mystery around the soldiers of ancient Rome

9 hours ago

Weather News

It’s not just humans – chimpanzees also like to follow trends

10 hours ago

AccuWeather Weather News River otter drags child off dock and underwater in rare attack at Washington marina
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...