Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Aggressive Otter Attacks Florida Kayakers

Officials say it's extremely rare for an otter to attack humans

A Florida kayaker is recovering after being attacked by an aggressive otter.

Sue Spector was kayaking with her husband down Braden River when the animal leaped onto the kayak and lunged at her last weekend.

The Tampa Bay Times reports the kayak flipped as the 77-year-old, her husband and witnesses tried to help. She tried to fight him off with her paddle but he persisted. The couple climbed on their guide's kayak. The otter followed but didn't attack again.

But it did scratch through two layers of clothes on a witness who tried to fight the animal off Spector.

Officials say it's extremely rare for an otter to attack humans.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said four kayakers were injured in separate attacks recently on the same river.

Witnesses say the creature may have been hunted by an alligator.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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