“Felt Something Really Sharp on My Bu**”: Dangerous Sea Animal Interrupts Swimming Adventure at California Lake

River otters are mischievous creatures, but they easily make up for it with their cuteness. However, recently they have earned a bad reputation due to two surprising attacks while swimming in the Sierra Nevada River and Lake. These attacks have left many swimmers startled and concerned about their safety in the water.

River otters are naturally very shy and avoid human interaction, unlike their cousins, the sea otters. One sea otter named Otter 841 has gained internet fame for coming up to kayakers and swimmers in Santa Cruz. However, river otters have always kept their distance from humans. Hence, these two attacks have caused a significant shift in public perception and raised questions about the sudden change in behavior.

Swimming communities witness unusual aggression from river otters

Recently, two rare attacks from otters on the Sierra Nevada River and Lake turned a peaceful swimming experience into a frightening ordeal. The otters attacked two women, leaving both injured and seeking medical assistance at the Tahoe Forest Hospital. Crystal Finn was one of the injured women who was attacked in the Feather River near Plumas National Forest. She had gone for a swim in the river with her cousins on July 11 when she felt something sharp on her bottom. The 41-year-old woman also felt a bite on her leg and began screaming. Thereafter, she noticed three otters bobbing in the water, their eyes fixed on her.

Finn understood the danger, although she couldn’t make sense of how she had provoked them. She started swimming back towards the river banks while trying her best to keep her face protected. In an interview with the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Finn described how the attack first began saying, “I felt something really sharp on my bu**, and started screaming”. Just two days earlier, another otter attack at Serene Lakes sent a swimmer to the ER with over 10 to 15 bites. Both women needed sutures and a rabies infection to stop the spread of any infection. The swimming community in the area was left shaken and worried about going out to the rivers with the otter population.

Otter attacks cause fear and concern

Otters in the Jefferson River attacked three women earlier this week. They were left with deep lacerations and needed immediate medical attention. The news of these attacks has caused a stir in the swimming community. Even Megan Isadore of the River Otter Ecology Project was surprised by this sudden aggression, stating, “They’re generally harmless”. The executive director of the River Otter Ecology Project commented on the unusual change in the otters’ behavior, saying, “Otters are not prone to attacking people”. She also said these attacks should not cause any panic, saying, “It’s very seldom, especially considering how many people are in the water, all over the country”. She defended the otters and expressed her love for them, saying, “River otters are adorable. Beautiful, they’re fun, they’re playful”. But she also reminded everyone of their ferocious nature, saying, “They’re wild animals, and it’s always best to treat all wildlife with caution”.

Read More: Dangerous Sea Animal Charged With Robbing Surfers of Their Priceless Possessions Now Deemed a Threat

Isadore explained that otters are most aggressive when they are defending their young. She said that the two women who were attacked in California while swimming must have unknowingly come too close to the nest. This provoked the protective parents to attack the women and drive them away. No matter what the reason, swimmers will think twice before stepping into otter territory again.

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