CARDWELL, Mont. — Three women were attacked by a river otter while floating the Jefferson River on Thursday, Aug. 3, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has announced.
According to FWP, the floaters spotted one or two otters around 8:15 p.m. One of the otters “approached and attacked them.” It swam away after the women got out of the water. All three women suffered injuries from the encounter and received medical treatment in Bozeman, Mont. One woman’s injuries were so serious that she was taken to the hospital in a helicopter.
“While attacks from otters are rare, otters can be protective of themselves and their young, especially at close distances,” FWP said in a press release. “They give birth to their young in April and can later be seen with their young in the water during the summer. They may also be protective of food resources, especially when those resources are scarce.”
Otters are present in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), so locals should be aware that otter encounters are possible. Grand Teton National Park’s Oxbow Bend is a popular destination for otter-spotting.
Although they might appear playful from afar, otters possess sharp claws on all four feet that they use to catch their prey. Otters are part of the weasel family, and weasels have a reputation for aggression.
“If you are attacked by an otter, fight back, get away and out of the water and seek medical attention,” FWP said.
