‘I think there’s some liability’: KIRO hosts debate who’s at fault for Bremerton otter attack
Jul 31, 2025, 6:20 PM | Updated: 6:26 pm
Two river otters. WDFW recently reported a child was involved in an animal attack when an otter dragged them underwater. (Photo: Chris LeBoutillier via WDFW)
(Photo: Chris LeBoutillier via WDFW)
The mother of a young child who was violently attacked by a river otter at the Bremerton Marina last year has filed a lawsuit against the Port of Bremerton, claiming that gross negligence led to the incident.
“Honestly, I do think there’s some liability,” KIRO fill-in host Angela Poe Russell said on “The Gee and Ursula Show,” regarding the mom choosing to live on a liveaboard boat on the dock.
Officials with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said the child was dragged underwater while being bitten and scratched. The mother was also bitten in the arm as she fought off the animal to save her child. Both were treated at a hospital in Silverdale, where doctors treated bites and scratches to the child’s face, head, and legs.
“If you choose to live in an area where wild animals are present, like on a dock, near the water, or on a boat, and you know there’s a potential risk, then how much responsibility falls on the port, and how much should be on you?” KIRO host Ursula Reutin asked.
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Mother sues Bremerton port, questions raised over otter warnings and negligence
In court documents, the woman alleges that the port failed to address known safety risks at the marina. Her complaint cites a 2023 email from a marina tenant to port managers, describing the docks as “otter-infested and foul,” according to The Seattle Times. The lawsuit claims the port ignored the warning.
Following the attack, WDFW officers worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to trap and euthanize otters in the area. One river otter was captured and sent to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab for rabies testing.
Ursula raised questions about whether residents were given sufficient warnings prior to the animal attack.
“I think it would matter if she can prove, ‘Hey, we have said repeatedly that, and there’s no warning signs, but she’s been living aboard this boat with her child,” Ursula said.
Listen to the full conversation below.
Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.
