BREMERTON, Wash. — A child is recovering after being dragged underwater and attacked by a river otter at the Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County Thursday morning.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. while the child and their mother were walking down the dock. The WDFW said the otter grabbed the child and pulled them underwater.

After a few moments, the child resurfaced and their mother managed to pull them out while the otter continued to attack, chasing the family even as they left the dock.

The child was taken to the hospital with scratches and bites to their head, face and legs. Fish and Wildlife officials said the victim was a "young child," but did not disclose any other information.

The WDFW contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services to trap and lethally remove river otters from the marina.

One river otter was found and trapped at the scene. The animal will be taken to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab for evaluation, including testing for rabies.

“We are grateful the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the mother’s quick actions and child’s resiliency,” said WDFW Sergeant Ken Balazs. “We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication to their marina tenants.”

There have been six documented human-river otter incidents in Washington in the last decade, according to wildlife officials. However, officials warn that otters can be territorial and unpredictable, like any wildlife.