Woman injured after being attacked by otter in Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE (KOLO) – A woman is recovering from her injuries after being attacked by an otter in Lake Tahoe.

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The Nevada Department of Wildlife says they were notified by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday of an animal attack near Hidden Beach.

The woman told NDOW she had been attacked by an otter while swimming along the shoreline along Hidden Beach earlier Sunday morning. The otter has not been located.

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NDOW says river otters are native predators and are found in Lake Tahoe and its surrounding basins. They say that while otter attacks on humans are rare, they can happen if the otter feels threatened, cornered or are defending their young.

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They say the last documented attack was at Serene Lakes in 2023.

Wildlife officials say it is unclear if rabies played a role in the attack.