An experienced Lake Tahoe swim instructor says an otter dragged her underwater near Hidden Beach and left her needing almost 40 stitches.
Story Snapshot
- Lynnette Bellin says an otter grabbed her leg and pulled her under near Hidden Beach around 8 a.m.
- Doctors closed deep bites and cuts with about 38 to nearly 40 stitches; she began rabies treatment.
- Bellin described lunges, bites, and scratches during a frantic struggle in the water.
- Wildlife officials say river otters live in Lake Tahoe but attacks on people are uncommon.
A quiet morning swim turned into a fight to breathe
Bellin entered the water near Hidden Beach in Incline Village around 8 a.m. for an open-water swim. She says something clamped onto her leg and yanked her under. She surfaced, saw an otter, and tried to kick free as it lunged and bit again.
She swam hard for shore and shouted for help. She later told reporters, “Something grabbed my leg and pulled me under,” and described repeated bites and scratches during the struggle.
WARNING: The video may be graphic for some. A Lake Tahoe swimmer is recovering after what's believed to be a river otter attacked her during a swim along the East Shore of the lake on Sunday. After the animal pulled her under, the woman shared her surprising attack on social… pic.twitter.com/AWa9q7tG3G
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) September 1, 2026
First responders met her after she reached land. Doctors counted dozens of wounds and closed them with roughly 38 to nearly 40 stitches. They started rabies shots as a safety step, which is standard after wild animal bites when the animal is not caught.
The most detailed reports list 38 stitches and note deep cuts on her foot and leg, along with scratches higher up. Bellin also faces follow-up care to prevent infection and long-term scarring.
Officials outline what lives in the lake and how risk rises
Nevada wildlife staff say river otters are present in Lake Tahoe. They avoid people most of the time, but they can act fast and hard if they feel cornered, if a person gets too close to young, or if food is nearby.
Attacks on people are uncommon, and officials stress that most days on Tahoe pass without such trouble. This message tracks with published research that calls human–otter conflicts rare yet real across decades.
Local responders backed up the scene details after the incident. Area coverage reported that the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Incline Village Fire Department, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office went to Hidden Beach.
Their presence signals a standard multi-agency approach: secure the scene, treat the injured person, survey the shoreline, and warn others in the area. Agencies also share information to decide if extra patrols or signs are needed.
How rare is rare? What the record actually shows
Published reviews and medical case write-ups paint a clear pattern. Human encounters with North American river otters are unusual, and attacks are rarer still.
A medical literature review notes only a small number of documented attacks over more than a century, and most cases require swift wound care and a rabies plan.
That is exactly what happened here: deep bites, many stitches, and prompt vaccination. It is an outlier, but it fits the known playbook for response.
Practical takeaways for swimmers and shoreline walkers
Give wildlife extra space. Scan the water and shoreline before you enter. If you see an otter or any wild animal in your path, move away at once. Keep dogs leashed near creeks and reeds, where dens might be.
Leave fish scraps and bait buckets out of the water; food smells draw animals. If an animal approaches, get big, make noise, and back away without turning your back. In the water, create distance and head for shore on the straightest line you can.
If bitten, control bleeding with clean pressure, rinse the wound with lots of clean water, and get to medical care fast. Ask about rabies shots and antibiotics. Report the bite to local wildlife staff and law enforcement.
That report helps agencies warn others and track patterns. Bellin’s experience is rare, but it is also a reminder that nature is not a theme park. Respect for wild space is common sense and a basic duty to your family and your neighbors.
