Encounter with mother otter at California national park sends visitor to the hospital

[yortsed snacilbuper]

The man was swimming in Manzanita Lake on June 25 when he was bitten by a female river otter, park spokesman Kevin Sweeney told The Times on Tuesday. The man was hospitalized with "significant injuries," including scratches and puncture wounds that caused bleeding, but they did not appear to be life threatening, Sweeney said.

It is unclear what prompted the incident, but officials believe that the man may have gotten too close to the female otter's kittens, prompting her to aggressively react.

"We're still watching her and we have wildlife biologist out there in the field making sure that she's still in that area," Sweeney said. "So for now, we're giving her space. We're keeping visitors out of her home. It's a good reminder for us in national parks that we are visitors and that our wildlife has their right to raise their babies in these places. And so, from time to time, we need to take a couple steps back and let them do that."

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[handmade34]

1. made me think of this... mama don't mess around

Curious baby foxes investigate baby otters, but mama otter puts a stop to that very quickly

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[question everything]

2. Good for mama otter!

[BlueIdaho]

3. This can happen pretty innocently... so pay attention out there.

But the take away is - do not fuck with or get between wild animals And their babies.

[Xolodno]

4. ALWAYS pay attention when you are out in nature.

You get between a mama bear and her cubs...you're dead. Wildlife usually stays away from humans, but, not all the time.

I recollect my orientation when I started working for Disneyland, "When people check into the park, their brain usually checks out".