Swim teacher says wild otter attacked her throughout open-water swim at Lake Tahoe

A weekend swim in Lake Tahoe turned violent for Reno-Tahoe swim teacher Lynnette Bellin, who stated she was attacked by a wild otter early Sunday morning close to Hidden Beach.

Bellin, a swim teacher with ISR Reno Tahoe, stated she was swimming in open water when she all of the sudden felt one thing seize her. “I felt hands on my leg and I got yanked underwater and I, it was so powerful. I thought it was… I thought It was a human,” Bellin stated.

She stated she then noticed the animal and the assault continued. “I turned around and saw this otter and it just started coming at me. It was teeth and claws and it was a very long attack. It just kept coming after me. I kept pushing it away and it kept coming back,” Bellin stated.

Bellin stated she wanted a complete of 38 stitches, together with 22 stitches in her foot, together with extra remedy. “I definitely needed rabies treatment. I did not know that you get immunoglobulin injected into your deepest lacerations. So I got seven shots into my deepest wounds, which was not fun,” she stated.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Incline Village Fire Department and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to the realm.

Kenzie Margiott, a public data officer for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, stated the North American river otter inhabitants has grown regionally. “North American river otter population in our area has increased over the last 15 years. Outside of the Tahoe Basin, they’re also known to be in the Carson River all the way through Carson City,” Margiott stated. She stated encounters like Bellin’s are uncommon, however otters can turn out to be territorial.

Margiott urged folks to be cautious round wildlife. “Just be mindful that you are sharing the space with wildlife,” she stated.

NDOW stated otters can carry rabies and different illnesses, and officers weren’t in a position to catch the otter on Sunday. The division can also be working with Nevada State Parks to alert guests in regards to the incident as a result of the animal was not captured. Officials stated that if folks see an otter across the basin, they need to not method or work together with it and may go away it alone.

The final recognized otter assault occurred at Serene Lakes in 2023, in response to Margiott. That incident was dealt with by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Bellin stated the assault won’t hold her out of the lake. “It’s yeah, nothing’s going to stop my love for that lake. And you know I encourage people to still enjoy it. Just be mindful of wildlife,” she stated.

Email reporter Anthony Ramos at aramos@sbgtv.com. Follow @antramosnews on X and Anthony Ramos on Facebook.