Apparently there are more dangerous critters than gators to worry about when paddling Florida’s rivers. Last month, reports of a rampaging river otter emerged out of Manatee County, and the culprit appeared to have been targeting kayakers.
According to the Bradenton Herald, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed multiple reports of aggressive otter encounters over two days on a stretch of the Braden River in Manatee County.
The first was received Saturday, March 3, when two kayakers reported being bitten by an otter. The next day, Sunday March 4, two more kayakers reported being attacked by an otter. The second day’s encounters occurred about 2 miles from the previous attack.
One of the victims, Sue Spector, 77, was interviewed by Fox 13 News after receiving stitches and rabies treatments as a result of the attack.
“I heard someone make a comment that, ‘Oh, there’s an otter!” Spector told Fox 13. “And then all of a sudden he jumped on my kayak and two seconds later he jumped on me.”
According to the report, the animal clawed, scratched and bit Spector’s arms, nose and ear. Her kayak flipped and a lifejacket and hat saved Spector from sustaining additional injury as her husband and other kayakers in the group fended the otter off with paddles.
FWC posted warning fliers at nearby boat ramps, but the terror might have already ended, as there are reports the otter might also have had a run-in with an alligator.