Because of the activity in the sea will never ends because many people rely their life on it … Additional Damage. Another Minnesota woman was attacked by an otter while swimming last weekend. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. In South America, the giant otter resides among hundreds of hungry caimans (a type of crocodilian related to alligators) without any issue. In addition, bones, fur or other samples collected from infected animals as souvenirs can transmit this fungus to humans. A river otter at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, gets some snow on … “One … Despite the attack, Richardson said the otter isn't in danger of being tranquilized or moved because it was exhibiting normal behavior. Animal control officials are warning people to stay away from the otters. There is evidence that river otters’ play activities strengthen social bonds, improve hunting techniques and scent mark territories. Otters are carnivores, eating mainly fish, crayfish, and frogs. The FWC said river otters, which belong to the weasel family, are not typically considered a threat to humans. Following an encounter naturalists are calling beyond bizarre, Canada’s top medical journal is warning of otter attacks on humans after a Quebec … 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. Experts found the question a strange one. "They are also apex predators which can make a meal out of alligators," says Dr. Daniel Allen, animal geographer and author of Otter. But they’re probably more likely to bite unfamiliar people, like visitors! “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. 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. Find more newsletters on our newsletter sign-up page. 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. Most sea otters call Alaska home. Otters rarely attack humans, but can sometimes be territorial, especially when they are protecting their babies. It took some time, but I fought with him, my husband jumped in, and other people came by to help.”. The animal, usually known for its curiosity and playful demeanor, leaped onto the kayak and lunged at Spector. Our rigorous coverage helps spark important debates about wellness and travel and adventure, and it provides readers an accessible gateway to new outdoor passions. Help fund our award-winning journalism with a contribution today. She said that in instances in which otters have attacked, people had gotten too close to mothers with cubs or to their dens. You are now subscribed to What You Missed They tend to leave humans alone so they aren't a threat if you happen to come upon one. It was fast and easy to kill them, skin them, and make a pocket full of money. 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. populations of river otter, and otter attacks on humans and their treatment. Otters are restless and do not like to be restrained or restricted. That home range shrinks drastically during breeding and rearing season. 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. They are also downright scary-looking. "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. There are 13 identified species of Otters known. "They usually detect us before we detect them.". Witnesses also suggested that the creature may have been hunted by an alligator. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). At 5.6 feet (1.7 meters), they are the biggest otters in the world and the longest members of the weasel family. When traveling on land, river otters walk, run, or bound. There are 13 species of otters around the world, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Immediate medical help is needed for any scratches or bites. Humans aren't on the menu. A sea otter snoozes on its back -- showing its hind legs, tail and webbed feet, which make otters great swimmers. Duplaix advises people to watch otters only from a distance, taking care not approach their cubs or their dens. The only known fatalities occurred in captivity when otters killed intruders to protect their cubs. [‘It’s jumping on people and biting them’: Squirrel attack leaves 3 injured at retirement home]. 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. But otters have a dark side. 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. "That is a common thing with all wildlife," Richardson said. Do they bite their owners? She said that otter attacks involving humans are “extremely rare,” but that when they do occur, there is usually a reason. Figure 2: Drawing Credit - WDF&W. The biggest problem with humans and Otters is that it was once big business to sell the pelts from these animals. The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family, yet the smallest marine mammal in North America. Subscribe to our newsletters to stay up-to-date on the latest outdoor news. Find more newsletters on our. In the Florida case, wildlife authorities said witnesses reported that the otter had been chasing boats. They'd much prefer to avoid conflict with our ilk. An animal expert said the attacks could be due to pressures on otter … 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 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. 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 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. They tend to leave humans alone so they aren’t a threat if you happen to come upon one. A 2011 Oceanographic Environmental Research Society study of otter attacks found only 39 documented violent confrontations dating back to 1875. Otters can transmit rabies to humans and pets. However, they can bite and they can fight with their tails so … The odd crocodilian meal is the result of sheer tenacity in which the otter wears down the gator during an hours-long struggle. “The otter followed us but didn’t attack again.”. To my surprise, I found that otters do attack people. They spend a significant portion of the day scent marking territory by urinating, defecating, scratching and rubbing their scent glands on rocks and trees. “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. 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.”. 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. Photo by Bob Winfree, National Park Service. Trails and Tracks. We will not share your email with anyone for any reason. Yet even bites are rare. They are cute and fun to watch. 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. 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. 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. However, they can bite and they can fight with their tails so if you are provoking an attack then you have been warned. Have a question about our comment policies? Bounding is their fastest gait. When otters are present around lakes and ponds, their fecal matter accumulates up to 20 yards from shorelines. 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. Here’s why. They like attention but do not like to ‘play’ with humans, in the way humans like to interact with pets. 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 fact is, otters don't want to have anything to do with you. Otters are carnivores, eating mainly fish, crayfish, and frogs. Check out our entire suite of free newsletters here. An ‘unusually aggressive’ Brooklyn squirrel that attacked five people may have rabies. Still threatened, otters have rebounded somewhat since the Department of Natural Resources reintroduced them across the U.S. during the past 30 years. 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. Otters boast a sharp set of canines and crushing molars. Most people find the Otter to be a friendly looking creature. Spector could not immediately be reached for comment. Otters have been known to attack humans, and females with young are unpredictable. Depending on the state of the infection, the spores of “Cocci” can also be aerosolized and inhaled by humans. Sue Spector was kayaking with her husband down the pristine Braden River in western Florida when she spotted an otter. 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. Time outside is essential—and we can help you make the most of it. “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. Subscribe to our What You Missed newsletter for the top headlines from the outdoor world, in your inbox six days a week. They also endanger residents by attracting coyotes and bobcats to yards, creating territory struggles that make properties unsafe. "Do not expect a waterside encounter with a placid, cuddly creature.". Humans aren't on the menu. She said that otter attacks involving humans are “extremely rare,” but that when they do occur, there is usually a reason. The co-expansion of otter and human populations accounts for most encounters gone wrong. Oil spills. 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. Because they don’t have blubber, sea otters eat constantly to make up for the … Jack and Marilyn ran to catch a glimpse of the offending creatures. Freezing the infected otter or its tissues will not kill the fungus, even in -80°C. One of 13 subspecies of otter, the North American river otter is found from And they have good cause to. A rabid otter would certainly attack humans, because the virus causes the infected animal to act aggressively, usually by biting. For this reason, petting and handling are ill-advised. Officials say that if the otter is found, it will be tested for rabies. Quite possibly. "They wouldn't go after somebody who wasn't interfering with them," says Stelle. 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’re messy eaters. Now when I see an otter, I have more respect. Often times when they have small one's around, but sometimes for no known reason. Then they flee. 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. So don't worry. 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. 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). 3. 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. “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. “Then we had this little tug of war,” she told the Tampa Bay Times. Check this one out: Giant otter with fish. Keep your respectful distance and, for the foreseeable evolutionary future, you won't be otter food. While river otters tend to live alone or in pairs, they often socialize in groups and are known for their playful behavior. Most people find the Otter to be a friendly looking creature. Normally, otters do not attack other animals. It has no serious natural predators other than humans, although it must compete with other species, including the neotropical otter and caiman species, for … Luckily, it doesn't occur often. Spector is recovering well. The attacks are vicious; however no one has died from an otter attack. Since Otters don’t pose a threat to humans there is no reason for such destruction to continue. Half a dozen attacks have been reported since. 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. Paddles to try to fend off the do otters attack humans a glimpse of the culprits were.! 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