Otters on the Attack: When Wildlife Encounters Get Too Close Lynnette Bellin's harrowing experience swimming in Lake Tahoe has left her with nearly 40 stitches and a series of rabies vaccinations.
The attack by a river otter serves as a stark reminder that even in serene natural environments, humans can encounter aggressive behavior from creatures we've grown accustomed to admiring.
Experts say such encounters are extremely rare, often explained away by human error or misreading animal intentions.