An otter unleashed a 'uncommon' assault on 3 girls who have been tubing on a Montana river, wildlife officers say

• An otter attacked three girls tubing on a Montana river, leaving them injured, officers mentioned.
• One of many injured girls was wounded extra critically and needed to be airlifted to a hospital.
• The Montana Division of Fish, Wildlife and Parks referred to as otter assaults a “uncommon” incidence. 

Three girls have been injured — yet one more critically — when an otter unleashed a “uncommon” assault on them because the trio was tubing alongside a river in southern Montana, in accordance with state wildlife officers. 

The ladies have been floating on internal tubes on the Jefferson River at round 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday after they noticed one to 2 otters, the Montana Division of Fish, Wildlife and Parks mentioned in an announcement on Thursday. 

Out of the blue, the federal government company mentioned, “An otter approached and attacked them.”

“The ladies received out of the water, and the otter swam away,” the wildlife division mentioned.

When the ladies received to shore, they referred to as 911, and a number of other businesses, together with the native sheriff’s workplace, responded to the incident. 

The ladies acquired medical consideration within the Montana metropolis of Bozeman, however considered one of them, who wildlife officers mentioned had “extra critical” accidents, was airlifted to a neighborhood hospital by way of a helicopter. 

“It is simply not one thing you run into fairly often,” Jefferson County Undersheriff James Everett instructed the Related Press of the assault. “Bears do it, moose too and infrequently a deer, however otters? That is not regular.” 

Everett instructed the information outlet that the girl who was hospitalized suffered wounds on her face and arms. 

The Montana Division of Fish, Wildlife and Parks mentioned staffers have posted indicators at a number of fishing entry websites within the space notifying guests of “otter exercise.”

“Whereas assaults from otters are uncommon, otters may be protecting of themselves and their younger, particularly at shut distances,” the company mentioned, including that the animals “can also be protecting of meals assets, particularly when these assets are scarce.”

The wildlife division mentioned: “If you’re attacked by an otter, struggle again, get away and out of the water, and search medical consideration.”