A tranquil tubing trip down Montana’s Jefferson River took a harrowing turn for a group of friends when they were attacked by an aggressive otter, leaving one woman injured and scarred. Jen Royce and her companions were enjoying a serene evening on the water near Bozeman when the otter pounced, causing chaos and panic.
Recalling the frightening encounter, Royce described how the assault unfolded. “I saw one otter right behind my friend before it attacked,” she recounted in a detailed Facebook post. The creature’s attack was sudden and brutal, leaving Royce with numerous wounds on her face, ears, arms, hands, legs, and ankles. Her friends also suffered bites on their hands and buttocks, one sustaining severe damage to her thumb.
The attack took place in a deep section of the river, leaving the trio unable to find solid footing as they tried to fend off the relentless otter. Royce’s desperate attempts to push the creature away proved futile until she managed to gain some stability and pull herself to safety. The ferocity of the attack left the friends scattered along the riverbanks and a rocky outcrop, separated and bloodied.
Stranded in a remote area, the friends employed desperate measures to ensure their safety. One of them activated a phone’s SOS feature to summon help, but their isolated location proved challenging for dispatchers to locate. Bleeding profusely, Royce and her companions had no choice but to call out to each other across the water, casting stones to deter the otter’s return.
After an agonizing wait, rescue crews finally arrived, with paramedics airlifting Royce to an emergency room. The extent of her injuries was staggering, with stitches needed to mend wounds on her face, ears, legs, arms, and hands. Her left ear was split in half and held together by bandages and stitches.
The incident highlights the lesser-known aggressive tendencies of otters, who typically appear as playful and adorable creatures. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks cautioned that otters can turn hostile if their young or food resources are threatened. Royce’s ordeal serves as a chilling reminder that even seemingly harmless wildlife encounters can take a dangerous turn, urging a respectful distance between humans and animals in their natural habitats.
