In The News – Lake Tahoe otter attack highlights the importance of swimming and self-rescue skills
September 4, 2026 | Member Submitted
Origionally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 9/4/2026, Written by Petra Molina
A routine swim in Lake Tahoe turned into a frightening fight for survival for Reno woman Lynnette Bellin, who was attacked by an otter near Hidden Beach in Incline Village. The attack was a “humbling reminder” that knowing how to swim and respond to an emergency are essential life skills, she said.
Bellin, a swim instructor who has spent more than two decades swimming in Lake Tahoe, said the attack happened Aug. 30.
She said she fought off the otter in the water before climbing onto the rocks to escape. But the animal followed her out of the water and continued attacking. She eventually managed to get away and make her way to the East Shore Bike Trail, where she encountered first responders. She was taken to the emergency room, where she received 38 stitches for her injuries and rabies shots following the attack.