Reno Swim Instructor’s Encounter with an Aggressive Otter at Lake Tahoe

A Reno swim instructor, Lynnette Bellin, had an unexpected encounter with an otter while swimming in Lake Tahoe, resulting in a visit to the emergency room. Bellin has been swimming in the lake for 25 years and was surprised to learn of the otter population there during a swim last Sunday.

“I thought someone was pulling on me at first because it was so strong,” Bellin said after the attack, as reported by the Reno Gazette Journal. The otter’s aggression grew as she struggled, leading to bites and scratches on her hands and face.

Bellin attempted to fight off the otter during the five-minute ordeal. She picked it up in an effort to defend herself, but the otter responded fiercely. “I’m screaming as it’s happening, but no one can hear me,” she shared. Eventually, she managed to escape by reaching a larger rock and later climbed over a fence to the safety of a bike trail.

After the incident, emergency responders met Bellin, but she drove herself to the hospital, receiving 38 stitches and rabies shots.

In a video shared post-incident, Bellin expressed her distress. “Swimming in Lake Tahoe is my peace and my sanctuary, but I feel like that was robbed from me,” she stated.

This incident serves as a reminder to remain vigilant when out in nature, where surprises can turn a leisurely swim into a battle with wildlife.