Making a financial contribution to Outside Online only takes a few minutes and will ensure we can continue supplying the trailblazing, informative journalism that readers like you depend on. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, General assignment reporter covering national and breaking news, Share your feedback by emailing the author. They'd much prefer to avoid conflict with our ilk. Key words: attack, rabies, mustelidae, river otter, Lontra canadensis, human interactions Introduction Otters are an aquatic carnivore found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Normally, otters do not attack other animals. We will not share your email with anyone for any reason. “When you’re [in the middle of] it you don’t have a lot of thought except you hope you survive.”, Spector and her husband climbed on their guide’s kayak and began paddling “as fast as we could,” she told the Times. Most people find the Otter to be a friendly looking creature. Otters boast a sharp set of canines and crushing molars. We hope you’ll support us. Following an encounter naturalists are calling beyond bizarre, Canada’s top medical journal is warning of otter attacks on humans after a Quebec … 3. But they’re probably more likely to bite unfamiliar people, like visitors! “Then we had this little tug of war,” she told the Tampa Bay Times. Sue Spector was kayaking with her husband down the pristine Braden River in western Florida when she spotted an otter. She said that otter attacks involving humans are “extremely rare” but that when they do occur, there is usually a reason. One of 13 subspecies of otter, the North American river otter is found from A sea otter snoozes on its back -- showing its hind legs, tail and webbed feet, which make otters great swimmers. Freezing the infected otter or its tissues will not kill the fungus, even in -80°C. In the Florida case, wildlife authorities said witnesses reported that the otter had been chasing boats. But otters have a dark side. Otters rarely attack humans, but can sometimes be territorial, especially when they are protecting their babies. They tend to leave humans alone so they aren't a threat if you happen to come upon one. Have a question about our comment policies? Find more newsletters on our. They tend to leave humans alone so they aren’t a threat if you happen to come upon one. Subscribe to our What You Missed newsletter for the top headlines from the outdoor world, in your inbox six days a week. “One … They are also downright scary-looking. "They usually detect us before we detect them.". The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. "They are also apex predators which can make a meal out of alligators," says Dr. Daniel Allen, animal geographer and author of Otter. "That is a common thing with all wildlife," Richardson said. "They wouldn't go after somebody who wasn't interfering with them," says Stelle. Often times when they have small one's around, but sometimes for no known reason. To my surprise, I found that otters do attack people. Looking for something else? Otters are carnivores, eating mainly fish, crayfish, and frogs. Otters are carnivores, eating mainly fish, crayfish, and frogs. The FWC warned that those who are bitten or scratched by wild animals should seek medical attention because they can carry rabies, a potentially deadly virus that attacks the central nervous system. There is evidence that river otters’ play activities strengthen social bonds, improve hunting techniques and scent mark territories. [‘It’s jumping on people and biting them’: Squirrel attack leaves 3 injured at retirement home]. It took some time, but I fought with him, my husband jumped in, and other people came by to help.”. Review our, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, ‘It’s jumping on people and biting them’: Squirrel attack leaves 3 injured at retirement home. Otters can transmit rabies to humans and pets. Trails and Tracks. They’re messy eaters. An animal expert said the attacks could be due to pressures on otter … Then they flee. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). Immediate medical help is needed for any scratches or bites. "Do not expect a waterside encounter with a placid, cuddly creature.". The animal, usually known for its curiosity and playful demeanor, leaped onto the kayak and lunged at Spector. Do they bite their owners? Find more newsletters on our newsletter sign-up page. Their long, agile bodies enable them to quickly twist, turn, roll and dive, and they are frequently seen sliding or burrowing in the mud or snow. The fact is, otters don't want to have anything to do with you. And theirs is a formidable bite, roughly comparable in force to a German shepherd's, which can break hand bones but mostly punctures or bruises skin. Jack and Marilyn ran to catch a glimpse of the offending creatures. Time outside is essential—and we can help you make the most of it. They like attention but do not like to ‘play’ with humans, in the way humans like to interact with pets. The couple was thrown into the water — half-swimming, half-flailing their paddles to try to fend off the animal. A four-foot river otter attacked an 8-year-old boy and his grandmother swimming in a Washington state river, nearly costing the boy his life. Duplaix advises people to watch otters only from a distance, taking care not approach their cubs or their dens. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Thanks for signing up! Another Minnesota woman was attacked by an otter while swimming last weekend. The giant otter subsists almost exclusively on a diet of fish, particularly characins and catfish, but may also eat crabs, turtles, snakes and small caiman. Since Otters don’t pose a threat to humans there is no reason for such destruction to continue. Subscribe to our newsletters to stay up-to-date on the latest outdoor news. Most occurred in the past 20 years—nearly half of them in Florida—and about a third of the culprits were rabid. The FWC said river otters, which belong to the weasel family, are not typically considered a threat to humans. Because of the activity in the sea will never ends because many people rely their life on it … It was the second attack in a month. The attacks are vicious; however no one has died from an otter attack. Otters are restless and do not like to be restrained or restricted. Luckily, it doesn't occur often. Spector could not immediately be reached for comment. Here’s why. Quite possibly. “An unprovoked attack is very un-otter-like, unless there’s a cause you can’t see,” Duplaix, who teaches conservation biology at Oregon State University, said Thursday in a phone interview with The Washington Post. Humans aren't on the menu. The only known fatalities occurred in captivity when otters killed intruders to protect their cubs. Officials say that if the otter is found, it will be tested for rabies. Otters rarely attack humans, but can be territorial (LA Times via Getty Images) A family of otters attacked two teenage boys who were swimming in Shasta Lake, California, on Sunday morning. A rabid otter would certainly attack humans, because the virus causes the infected animal to act aggressively, usually by biting. In recent years, Outside Online has reported on groundbreaking research linking time in nature to improved mental and physical health, and we’ve kept you informed about the unprecedented threats to America’s public lands. Usually otters do not attack people unless it is a mother protecting her babies, or the animal has rabies, but it is unclear why in the video the otter came after the person filming, who ran away screaming. But they're extremely territorial. Witnesses also suggested that the creature may have been hunted by an alligator. Though their tendency when confronted is to dive and flee, otters can be aggressive when defending their young or a food source from a perceived threat. She said that in instances in which otters have attacked, people had gotten too close to mothers with cubs or to their dens. In the United States, there are sea otters and the North American river otters, or Canadian otters. Now when I see an otter, I have more respect. A river otter at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, gets some snow on … So don't worry. While river otters tend to live alone or in pairs, they often socialize in groups and are known for their playful behavior. Help fund our award-winning journalism with a contribution today. The otter's is a tired, old story: once it was abundant throughout most of North America, from Mexico to as far north as the Arctic Circle, spread from sea to sea. In light of recent otter attacks in Florida, we reviewed all evidence of otter attacks on humans for any geographical and temporal relationships from the earliest (1875) to the most recent (Dec 2010). Spector is recovering well. Duplaix, with the Otter Specialist Group, an organization responsible for the global conservation of otters, said that “even a cornered rat can do a lot of damage” and that otters are no exception. Otters have been known to attack humans, and females with young are unpredictable. Thank you. The creatures, which often share aquatic habitats with beavers, enjoy “unpolluted water with a minimal human disturbance,” according to the National Zoo: A North American river otter’s home range can be as large as 30 square miles (78 square kilometers), but a typical territory is 3 to 15 square miles (4.8 to 24 square kilometers). "Otters are very hard to see in the wild in most areas and try to avoid human presence," says Lei Lani Stelle, a biology professor and otter researcher at California's University of Redlands. She said that otter attacks involving humans are “extremely rare,” but that when they do occur, there is usually a reason. It has no serious natural predators other than humans, although it must compete with other species, including the neotropical otter and caiman species, for … But in the early 1900s populations drastically declined, fallout from extensive trapping, urbanization, and pollution as the industrial age gained steam and humans encroached on otter habitat. The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Most people find the Otter to be a friendly looking creature. Half a dozen attacks have been reported since. And they have good cause to. Spector, 77, from Sarasota, turned around in her boat early Sunday morning and, catching a glimpse of the small river dweller, thought to herself, “Oh, this is a cute otter,” she told the Tampa Bay Times. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. It was fast and easy to kill them, skin them, and make a pocket full of money. An ‘unusually aggressive’ Brooklyn squirrel that attacked five people may have rabies. The agency said that within the past year, there have not been any other reports of otter attacks in Manatee County, but it urged people to “reduce encounters with otters and other wildlife by maintaining your distance and not approaching otters or other wildlife, not feeding otters or other wildlife, and keeping pets leashed and supervised.”. Despite the attack, Richardson said the otter isn't in danger of being tranquilized or moved because it was exhibiting normal behavior. Nicole Duplaix, who chairs the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Otter Specialist Group, said otters are known for being friendly animals, but, like most other creatures, keep their distance from humans. The odd crocodilian meal is the result of sheer tenacity in which the otter wears down the gator during an hours-long struggle. In South America, the giant otter resides among hundreds of hungry caimans (a type of crocodilian related to alligators) without any issue. For this reason, petting and handling are ill-advised. Depending on the state of the infection, the spores of “Cocci” can also be aerosolized and inhaled by humans. Animal control officials are warning people to stay away from the otters. The biggest problem with humans and Otters is that it was once big business to sell the pelts from these animals. The odd crocodilian meal is the result of sheer tenacity in which the otter … populations of river otter, and otter attacks on humans and their treatment. “I took my paddle, and I tried to get him off of me, and he wouldn’t let go, and I kept screaming, I kept beating him with a paddle,” Spector told Fox affiliate WTVT. When traveling on land, river otters walk, run, or bound. Still threatened, otters have rebounded somewhat since the Department of Natural Resources reintroduced them across the U.S. during the past 30 years. In addition, bones, fur or other samples collected from infected animals as souvenirs can transmit this fungus to humans. Experts found the question a strange one. Check out our entire suite of free newsletters here. Oil spills. Additional Damage. Extreme adventure: 1950s film shows beavers parachuting into Idaho backcountry. However, they can bite and they can fight with their tails so if you are provoking an attack then you have been warned. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a shy, if playful, weasel topping out at 30 pounds and five feet from head to tail. Most sea otters call Alaska home. Spector, who suffered injuries to her arm, nose and ear during the weekend otter attack, has been treated for rabies as a precaution, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The co-expansion of otter and human populations accounts for most encounters gone wrong. Such a concentrated attack on a human is without precedent in the wild. To inspire active participation in the world outside through award-winning coverage of the sports, people, places, adventure, discoveries, health and fitness, gear and apparel, trends and events that make up an active lifestyle. Check this one out: Giant otter with fish. Bounding is their fastest gait. They spend a significant portion of the day scent marking territory by urinating, defecating, scratching and rubbing their scent glands on rocks and trees. Because they don’t have blubber, sea otters eat constantly to make up for the … However, they can bite and they can fight with their tails so … The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family, yet the smallest marine mammal in North America. There are 13 species of otters around the world, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Photo by Bob Winfree, National Park Service. When otters are present around lakes and ponds, their fecal matter accumulates up to 20 yards from shorelines. “I tried to get him off of my kayak, and I screamed extremely loud so I could try and scare him off, but that didn’t work. Figure 2: Drawing Credit - WDF&W. That home range shrinks drastically during breeding and rearing season. Yet even bites are rare. “For an otter to come toward you is really exceptional,” she said. There are 13 identified species of Otters known. Our mission to inspire readers to get outside has never been more critical. Humans aren't on the menu. Human injuries are typically minor like Spector's; in one extreme case, an otter attack victim had to receive nearly 200 stitches, but none of the attacks were fatal. You are now subscribed to What You Missed She said that otter attacks involving humans are “extremely rare,” but that when they do occur, there is usually a reason. Our rigorous coverage helps spark important debates about wellness and travel and adventure, and it provides readers an accessible gateway to new outdoor passions. River otters, which weigh between 10 and 33 pounds, have long slender bodies, short legs and webbed toes, according to a fact sheet from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. A 2011 Oceanographic Environmental Research Society study of otter attacks found only 39 documented violent confrontations dating back to 1875. They also endanger residents by attracting coyotes and bobcats to yards, creating territory struggles that make properties unsafe. At 5.6 feet (1.7 meters), they are the biggest otters in the world and the longest members of the weasel family. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement earlier this week that the agency’s law enforcement officers were searching for an “aggressive otter” after four kayakers were injured in separate attacks Saturday and Sunday on the Braden River in Manatee County. Keep your respectful distance and, for the foreseeable evolutionary future, you won't be otter food. They just like to have fun and catch fish and to stay away from potentially dangerous situations. Otters had crept up into their backyard, and attacked Bucky, the couple’s 13-year-old Pappion. She said that otter attacks involving humans are "extremely rare" but that when they do occur, there is usually a reason. When provoked, they'll give brief chase—they can swim seven miles per hour and achieve 18 on land at a full run, webbed toes an all—and if things come to such a pass, they'll snap. What is an otter? “The otter followed us but didn’t attack again.”. Lei Lani Stelle, a biology professor and otter researcher at California's University of Redlands, 2011 Oceanographic Environmental Research Society study, Dr. Daniel Allen, animal geographer and author of, our entire suite of free newsletters here. They are cute and fun to watch.
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