Beware Otters Attack Dogs. Yes, I Said Otters

Having your dog attacked by a wild animal is a frightening experience. When two animals are engaged in a fight, it can be difficult to separate them without sustaining injuries yourself.

Depending where you live, coyotes, bobcats, bears, foxes, alligators and mountain lions are the animals that most people are concerned will attack their pets. Otters, although usually shy, non-aggressive animals, have increasingly been involved in attacks on both humans and dogs. Some of the otter attacks on dogs have been fatal. In some cases it has been thought the otter was a mother trying to protect her litter, or in other attacks the otter was rabid.

North American river otters can be found throughout the United State and Canada. Otters mainly east fish, but also eat frogs, snakes, crustaceans, and sometimes small mammals, water birds such as ducks, geese and even herons. Otters are aquatic members of the weasel family, and can look a lot like a large wet cat when they emerge from the water. Otters are usually 3 to 4 feet long and weigh up to 25 pounds. They have webbed toes, short legs and a small, flat head. In Florida, otters are usually found close by to fresh water, living in burrows, on water banks, or under the roots of trees. Otters are protected under Florida law, but can be killed if they destroy property.

In Boca Raton, Florida a woman walking her Labrador retriever and fox terrier experienced an otter attack first hand. The woman saw four otters in the water and kept walking with her two dogs. One of the otters came out of the water and viciously attacked her Lab, pulling the dog into the water. The Boca Raton resident jumped into the water to rescue her dog. The terrier also went in the water and the otter released the Lab and went after the small dog. The woman resorted to punching the otter until it released her terrier and swam away. Luckily both dogs and their owner survived the attack without serious injuries.

In 2001, an otter attack in New Port Richey, Florida resulted in the death of a 5-year-old Alaskan Eskimo. Two teenage girls watched as their dog, Mike was ferociously attacked by the otter in the backyard of their New Port Richey home. At first the girls thought the otter was just playing with their beloved pet, when suddenly the 4-foot-long otter grabbed Mike's snout with his teeth and began to drag the fluffy, white dog into the lake. As the girls screamed for help, a family friend grabbed a pole, jumped into a small boat and tried to rescue Mike. The dog was already limp and floating away. The otter showed no fear of the rescue attempt, jumped into the boat and began attacking the friend's foot. The girls stood in the backyard, hysterical as their friend kicked and jabbed the otter with a pole. The otter jumped off of the boat, swam over to Mike, grabbed the dog and glided off. The body of the dog was found on the shore of the lake a day after the attack.

Dog owners should consider the possibility of attacks by wild animals on their pets and take preventative measures. Dogs should never be left outside unsupervised. Even in fenced yards, wild animals have been known to gain access and attack pets. If your dog must be left outside, consider purchasing or building an outdoor 6-sided enclosure that is made of a heavy gauge chain-link. Remove food sources from your yard, such as fallen fruit or food refuse. Do not leave pet food outside unnecessarily.

Always walk your dog on a leash. When walking your dog in areas where a wildlife attack may occur, get in the habit of carrying something with you to scare wildlife, such as, a walking stick, air horn, or umbrella, as well as something to throw such as baseballs or golf balls. If you notice a wild animal such as a coyote, or an otter, keep your dog as close to you as possible and move towards an active area. Never encourage your dog to interact or play with a wild animal. If your dog is attacked by an animal, avoid the desire to jump between the animals and pull them apart. This usually results in serious injury and the possibility of going through rabies shots. Consult your veterinarian, or dog trainer for other suggestions on how to deal with animal attacks.