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If there’s one thing that’s going to get me canceled (besides being opposed to Crocs as a concept) it’s my opinion about otters. And it isn’t even an opinion, really, it’s just an acknowledgement of an uncomfortable truth. Yes, otters are very cute and they are important in ecosystems. But I also believe that sea otters and river otters alike are very mean, even nasty. And that’s fine! They owe us nothing! We have directly and indirectly messed up their habitats all over the world and if they choose to enact justice upon us, they kind of have the moral high ground. It really has been a Hot Revenge Summer for California otters. A female sea otter, Otter 841, has been terrorizing surfers in Santa Cruz, stealing their surfboards, evading capture, and becoming a folk hero in the process. River otters are also getting in on the action. Recently the actress Crystal Finn, who was on an episode of Succession, discovered this firsthand. She was swimming in a river in Plumas National Forest which is north of Lake Tahoe. Suddenly she felt something bite her and an entire group of river otters swarmed her in the water. They bit her all over. This is my worst nightmare.
Crystal Finn had an unfortunate encounter with otters.
The actress, who played Lauren Pawson in the Season 4 “America Decides” episode of Succession, was attacked by otters in Northern California, she told the San Francisco Chronicle.
She said she was swimming in the Feather River near Plumas National Forest in July. “I felt something on my back side and on my leg,” she explained.
“I started looking around and yelling out and [the otters] popped up right in front of me. Then they dove down and started going at me again.”
“I could see the bites on my legs and knew I had been bitten on my butt — that one was the worst, but I couldn’t see it. The bites really hurt,” she continued.
She thought that the attack might have been a mother protecting her children.
Crystal was treated for her injuries at Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, California, where she was told of other otter recent attacks in the area.
She added that she was glad she hadn’t brought her young daughter along for the swim.
“It would have been a lot worse,” she said.
The attack news comes as otters also attacked three women in southern Montana who were inner tubing down a tributary of the Missouri River in August, with one victim needing to be airlifted to a hospital.
I rest my case, people! River otters are no joke. I camped north of where she was once, in Lassen National Park, and there were signs everywhere that said “do not swim or kayak, the river otter is at large.” I am more afraid of them than mountain lions. Mountain lions and bears are pretty elusive, even though they’re dangerous. But river otters just have this energy like they could come after you at any second, like a honey badger or a Real Housewife. Crystal is lucky that she’s okay. It sounds completely harrowing. To be fair, otter attacks are relatively rare, but they do happen and they can really cause some damage. Revenge, thy name is Otter.
photos credit: Klajdi Cena, Ellie Burgin and Tuesday Temptation on Pexels and Getty
“…energy like they could come after you at any second, like a honey badger or a Real Housewife.”
LMFAO!
That was my favourite bit too, what a perfect descriptor lmao
Yes!! Carina perfectly captured the attitudes of Otters and added the chefs💋 with her perfectly chosen photos!!
Though, we as a society should learn that wild animals are wild animals and that we are in THEIR territory, not ours!! I am glad that she escaped without greater injury though.
#imwiththeOtters!
@BothSidesNow THIS! I tell anyone who will listen that when humans go on/in the ocean or into a forest they are no longer at the top of the food chain. You have to accept there are other animals who have even more right to be there than you and *you* are the animal who has to concede the area if there is a risk of confrontation.
A most excellent line. I snorflaughed. It’s true!
ETA: I’m happy Crystal survived and is okay.
I love otters and am so excited when I see one in the wild. Nature can be both adorable and vicious, I say as my cat stalks me from under the couch. Defend your watery turf little buddies!
The animals are fighting back.
The animals have had enough and who can blame them.
Yep, just like the orcas – the animals have HAD IT with humans and now they’re fighting back! Encroach on their turf and you’ll know the reason why, M-Fs (as my late dad used to say). It’s like the martens in Germany, chewing through all the wiring on Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs, rendering them inoperable. They’re sticking it to the man! God, I sound like my dad right now. Go, animals!
Yeah I’m sorry this happened, but… team animals.
Ditto on loving otters!
Yup. Orcas have joined the chat. Humans have done so much damage.
that sounds terrifying!
yes they have such a reputation for being vicious!! It’s why I find them kind of terrifying in Finding Dory, LOL. I’m glad she was okay, that sounds scary. I’m terrified of something attacking me in the water, its why I prefer pools, lol.
@ Becks1, as many times as I have been stung by jellyfish, the catamaran flipped, I still get I the water. I still continued to dive even if I am surrounded by barracudas, now those guys SCARE the hell out of me but sharks don’t.
Otters are classified as apex predators! Has no one watched Zootopia?!
Ha ha! Emmett Otterton. My son loves this movie, I’ve seen it thousands of times by now.
Here’s a link to an otter attack that happened recently in Montana. We’ve floated and played in the river where this happened since the mid-70’s. An otter attack is something I never thought of. Rattlesnakes (yes) Drunk fools with guns (yes) Otters (?)
Honestly, there are too many people now. We’re everywhere, crowding the bejesus out of other species.
https://www.krtv.com/news/montana-and-regional-news/woman-recovering-after-being-attacked-by-otters-in-montana
@ Skyblue, that is horrifying and simply terrifying at the same time and it just happened too!!! I didn’t realize that otters were this ferocious and have such an aggressive manner. I do hope that these women are able to recover fully and I am thankful that they didn’t suffer more injury or loss of life!!
Wow that’s so scary! I never knew this about otters. They seem so cute…
I’m all for animal iprisings. Go otters! Go, orcas! Go, elephants!
I have no idea who this person is but there was no way I was not going to click on a headline about an otter attack! WTF?!!?
Cute or not, wild animals are wild animals. Do everything you can to enjoy them from a distance!
I’m so glad Crystal will be okay and was not severely injured. I can’t imagine how frightened she was at the time.
As a species, however, we kind of deserve all of these orca and otter attacks. We’ve messed up the environment and climate so badly. I don’t blame them for coming after us.
That last otter picture was the perfect choice for this post. The way the otter is standing on its hind paws it looks pretty threatening.
Oh, that’s the photo that gets me! It’s going to haunt my dreams!
For real, my first thought was “slow heavy metal music playing.” That otter gonna get ya
The first otter photo and the last otter photo reminded me of the movie Gremlins.
Sweet Gizmo and Bad Stripe. Otters are very territorial. I have a relative that works in the National Parks system out west. One of the biggest problems they have is people not understanding wild life rules.
I love this topic. I’m glad Crystal survived and her daughter wasn’t with her. People do need to do their research before doing lots of thing out in nature/wildlife. Also, do let your dogs/pets near an area where otters are galivanting about.
My husband has told me a story countless times from when he was around twelve. Swimming in a lake? near Stone Mountain, GA. There was a water moccasin situation.
Correction/typo: do not let, not do let your …. Apologies.
I have never given otters a second thought, now I know if I ever see one to show respect.
Wow, that is harrowing. I mean, the otters are totally within their rights, but still. Being attacked by underwater critters sounds quite scary.
That reminds me of reading “In The Heart Of The Sea,” about the Nantucket whaler that might have inspired “Moby Dick.” After years of being hunted, the whales had had enough. The whale ship “Essex” was literally attacked by a whale. The thing turned around and headed back for the boat and rammed it. Multiple times, I think. Take that, humans! Light your lamps with your own blubber!
Otters are still cute, though.
Trying to remember who and what Crystal Finn did/said on Succession – Did her character have a name? America Decides—I’m thinking it was around the election, then?
Carina – we will forever disagree on otters. I love them and this story does NOTHING to curtail my love for them. I think these otters are taking a cue from their ocean cohorts and are TAKING BACK THEIR HABITATS. Otters UNITE!
But in all seriousness – I’m glad she is okay. That had to have been a terrifying experience.
I’m glad she’s ok, that must have been terrifying.
But anyone who read the Redwall books knows that otters will eff your shit up.
I noped right out of a nature walk when I saw river otters. The rest of the group was taking photos and some were trying to get close enough to “pet” the fury that is river otters. I warned them and they didn’t believe something so adorable and friend shaped was dangerous.
I will earn no fans saying this, but otters are rapey water weasels. I’m not kidding.
LOL, yes, but they are very cute rapey water weasels!
HELLO! I WAS ONCE CHARGED BY A TERRIFYING AND ANGRY RIVER OTTER!
Decades ago, when I was in college doing field biology in the BWCA — narrow river, I’m in the bow of a group of 4 canoes, RIVER OTTER COMING FOR US.
Terrifying! 3/4s up out of the water. Hissing! Teeth!
BACKPADDLE!!!! I yelled and we all did, for a LONG time, until the otter got tired of us and went away. Do not mess with otters. THey’re all muscle and teeth.
Otters are srs bidness. And very bitey. you’re also not supposed to touch them so if one jumps in your kayak in the bay, you’re supposed to wait for it to leave!
I generally only go in the ocean (if that). freshwater scares me.
I love the ocean but I don’t even enjoy being gently nibbled by tiny fish. What I can’t see scares me!
I hope Otter 841 continues to evade capture. She did nothing wrong, and the biologists need to leave her alone. The capturing and tagging of wild animals “for research” or “to track their activity” strikes me as abusive and really ticks me off.
And may also explain their propensity to want to attack humans who invade their space.
I’m convinced Mother Earth is pissed and out to get humans for hurting her! I got bite by a spider in my sleep on Wednesday, no pain, but a red, swollen 2in circle with a 3in tail. I’m on antibiotics for 2 weeks & loads of Benadryl, the dr & the pharmacists both said spider bites have been on the rise this year.
I love them but otters are nasty. Adorable but nasty. They beat and rape each other on a regular basis, so people are fair game. They are water weasels, and last time I checked, weasels are very nasty. Also, they are wild animals. Sure bears are cute, but do you get near them? No? I thought not.
Stay the fork away from the wildlife people. It’s called WILD for a reason…….
I live in very rural area and have only seen otters a few times. The coolest event was while I was driving. Deer are unbelievably common so I’m always scanning for movement. I was startled and pleased to see an otter coming down a hill! I stopped my car, s/he made eye contact with me just like a pedestrian would, gave a little nod and crossed the road in front of me.
I was surprised by the eye contact, but not after reading up on otters.
I am of 2 minds about this story, on one hand it sounds terrifying! But I’m always going to root for the animals.
If not friend, why friend shaped?
#teamotter
I was chased by a cow once. Before that, I didn’t even know cows ran. And they are fast AF! I don’t know what that cow would’ve done to us if it caught us, and I don’t care. Since then, my philosophy is all wild animals are dangerous and want to kill us. Act accordingly.