“It sounded huge,” North Carolina resident Erin Hogston said
Credit: WECT News 6/YouTube
A woman is speaking out after she was attacked by an otter while watching a local marathon.
Erin Hogston was recently watching some friends compete in the race on a trail in Cary, N.C. when she heard bushes rustling behind her, according to NBC affiliate WECT.
The Wilmington woman said she initially feared a bear was lurking behind her and started to run away, but fell as she was attacked by another animal: an otter.
“It sounded huge,” she said, and recalled telling herself, “Oh God, I need to get away.”
Hogston went to a nearby emergency room, and eventually received six rabies shots, leaving her out thousands of dollars, according to WECT.
People have been shocked by Hogston’s story, including staff at the emergency room. “Everybody was like, ‘Wow, we thought they were nice, we thought they were cute,' " she said.
But Hogston told WECT she no longer sees “anything cute about otters” after the attack, and is warning others to “be aware of your surroundings.”
“You never know what’s going to be out on those trails,” Hogston said.
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Only 59 otter attacks have been documented worldwide since 1875, according to WECT. Only one other otter attack has been documented in North Carolina.
It is unclear why the otter attacked Hogston, though wildlife officials say rabies and self-defense are among many reasons why an otter might attack.
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