Child pulled underwater in Washington river otter attack

*Attached video: Unusual animals spotted in Ohio

BREMERTON, Wash. (WJW) – A child is recovering after being attacked and pulled underwater by an otter in Washington.

According to a release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife , a woman said a river otter pulled her young child into the water while they were walking down the dock at the Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County on Thursday around 9:30 a.m.

According to the report, the child was dragged underwater but resurfaced after a few moments.

“The child’s mother was able to lift the child out of the water while the otter continued to attack and was subsequently bit on the arm,” the release from the WDFW said.

According to the report, the otter continued to follow the family as they left the dock.

The child was treated for scratches and bites to the top of the head, face and legs at a Silverdale hospital, according to the release .

“We are grateful the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the mother’s quick actions and the child’s resiliency,” WDFW Sergeant Ken Balazs said in the release . “We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication to their marina tenants.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Service was contacted by the WDFW to “trap and lethally remove river otters from the marina,” the release said. One river otter was trapped at the scene.

According to the release , the otter that was trapped is being taken to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab for further evaluation, including testing for rabies.

According to the WDFW , river otters are common in the state of Washington. They can be found in fresh, brackish, or saltwater habitats.

There have been six documented human-river otter incidents in Washington in the last decade, according to the WDFW .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.