A swim in Lake Tahoe turned into a frightening experience for Reno swim instructor Lynnette Bellin. Over the weekend, she was unexpectedly attacked by an otter during her swim in the lake. The encounter left her in the emergency room, after what she described as a five-minute struggle.
Bellin, who has swum in Lake Tahoe for 25 years, was shocked to learn about otters in the area. She realized their presence about 30 minutes into her swim on Sunday, on a familiar route she swims every Sunday since July, according to the Reno Gazette Journal.
“At first I thought it was a person pulling on me because it was so strong,” Bellin shared with the outlet on Monday. “I haven’t seen anyone else out there swimming, so I wasn’t sure. And then I felt the teeth and claws, and it was relentless.”
She recounted how the otter grew more aggressive as she fought back. In the struggle, she tried to throw the otter, which responded by biting and clawing her hands and face.
Despite her screams, those on a nearby bike trail couldn’t hear her. She eventually reached slippery rocks but the otter continued pursuing her. Her escape involved climbing a bigger rock and then scaling a fence to reach the bike trail. Barefoot and bleeding, she walked back to her starting point.
Authorities, including police, firefighters, and an ambulance, met her upon her return. Bellin later drove herself to the hospital where she received 38 stitches and rabies shots.
In a video post after her emergency room visit, Bellin expressed her sadness and frustration: “Swimming in Lake Tahoe is my absolute favorite thing to do. It is my peace and my sanctuary. I feel like that was robbed from me after the otter attack.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder to remain vigilant in nature, as unexpected wildlife encounters can occur. Sunday’s swim transformed into a struggle for Bellin against a wild otter.
Sean Joseph is a writer for OutKick.
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