Woman rushed to hospital after otter attack

Local authorities have said that otter attacks are highly unusual. Photo: Lois_McCleary

A woman was rushed to the hospital after being attacked by otters while river rafting with two friends in the Montana desert.

Three hikers were paddling down the Jefferson River, a tributary of the Missouri River, on inflated cells when they were attacked by at least one otter.

One woman sustained injuries to her face and hands so severe that she had to be flown by helicopter to a hospital in Bozeman. Two others suffered hand injuries while trying to fight off the animal.

Officers are puzzled by the incident, which took place around 8 p.m. Wednesday, and say attacks by river otters are highly unusual.

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“It's just not something you come across very often. Bears, moose and sometimes deer do this, but otters? This is not normal,” said James Everett, Jefferson County Police Officer.

Morgan Jacobsen of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. said at least one otter swam up to the women and attacked them.

The women were able to make it to shore, where one of them called 911, he said. He added that it is not yet clear exactly how many otters were involved in the attack.

During the summer, river levels are lower, resulting in more human contact with wildlife.

The attack took place on the Jefferson River, a tributary the Missouri River, popular with anglers and swimmers. Photo: Morgan Jacobsen

«While otters rarely attack, otters can defend themselves and their young, especially at close range,» Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said in a statement.

“They give birth to their young in April and can later be seen with their babies in the water during the summer. They can also protect food resources, especially when those resources are scarce.”

Conservation officials do not plan to hunt, catch or kill otters. For now, they have put up signs warning visitors that there are potentially dangerous otters in the area.

Heavy as a small dog

One well-documented attack involved a 52-year-old woman who was swimming. in a lake in southern Quebec, Canada in 2016.

An otter aggressively pursued it as it swam, biting and scratching its legs and inflicting several deep open wounds.

The North American river otter is well adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle, its clawed feet allow it to grab slippery prey such as fish and eels.

They can weigh up to 30 pounds (14 kg) — the same as a small dog, and grow up to four feet in length, including tail.

This species is found throughout most of the United States and Canada, and its diet consists of fish, crabs, crayfish, frogs, and turtles.