CRAZY FLORIDA OTTERS LEAVE CUDDLY BEHIND, GO ON THE ATTACK
Newsflash! Cute and cuddly turn into dangerous and aggressive! Don’t tell the kids! But you otter know. I mean, you oughta know, Morisette style. Florida, as always, dominates in the random news category. Last week, the Tampa Bay Times did some reporting on local attacks by otters. No, really. At least four people were physically attacked by the normally cute and cuddly beasts. But there is some confusion as to how many otters and what, exactly, is going on. But people in boats weren’t even safe!
RABID, ROGUE OTTER? OR ANGRY GROUP ON A RAMPAGE?
The reports aren’t clear if it is one, possibly rabid, otter who has been the attacker, or several otters attacking independently. But there were at least two groups of people were menaced by an otter, or otters. We otter know more, but don’t yet. If they aren’t already, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation is expected to investigate these attacks. This is a priority as at least two people were actually bitten by an otter. So if the furry freak is rabid, that’s kind of important for people to know.
ONE OTTER EVEN CHASED BOATS, CLIMBED ABOARD TO ATTACK WOMAN
But the biting otter was also chasing boats. Now that is some seriously aggressive behavior for such a small critter. Otters normally don’t behave anything like this. All of this crazy otterdom took place along the Braden River in Manatee County, Florida. So far, no word if the little beast is harassing the Manatees, too. But just a few miles upriver an otter (the otter?) went after a kayaking woman in a vicious attack. The woman, Sue Spector, was on the river with about ten people. But that didn’t deter the otter.
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CUTE CRITTER LAUNCHES HIMSELF AT WOMAN ON KAYAK
Spector said, “I thought ‘Oh this is a cute otter, and all of the sudden he jumped on the back of the kayak and lunged at me. Then we had this little tug of war, I tried to get him off of my kayak and I screamed extremely loud so I could try and scare him off but that didn’t work. It took some time, but I fought with him, my husband jumped in and other people came by to help.”
VICTIM TREATED FOR MULTIPLE INJURIES, RABIES
That might not seem like much. But Spector had injuries to her arm, nose, and ears from the otter attack. For safety, doctors also treated her for rabies, which is no fun at all. The otters also attacked one other woman who came to help. But everyone there felt the otter menace. So don’t judge a book by its cover. Definitely don’t trust cute and cuddly. Remember the tribbles?