An otter. Photo / APN
A rare attack by a river otter in southern Montana injured three women floating on inner tubes and inflicted wounds serious enough that one victim had to be airlifted to a hospital, authorities said on Thursday.
The attack happened near the town of Cardwell on a remote stretch
of the Jefferson River, a tributary of the Missouri River that’s popular with anglers and recreational floaters.
At least one otter swam up to the adult women about 8.15 pm on Wednesday and attacked them, said Morgan Jacobsen with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. The women were able to get to shore, where one of them called 911, he said.
“It’s just not something you run into very often,” Everett said. “Bears do it, moose too and occasionally a deer, but otters? That’s not normal.”
Jacobsen said one of the women saw two otters beforehand but it was unclear how many were involved in the attack.
