SODA SPRINGS, Calif. — A Northern California man calling on officials to take action after he was attacked by two otters at Serene Lakes.
"It was just terrifying. It just... it was like death by a thousand cuts. Just kept getting bit over and over and over again. They ripped open my arm," said Matt Leffers.
Bitten by two river otters more than a dozen times, Leffers is now recovering but left with the scars from the traumatic attack back in September.
The grandfather says he had gone for a swim in Serene Lakes in the Sierra when he started to feel the sharp bites.
"I screamed for help cause I couldn't get in. I was only a hundred feet out, but I couldn't get in. I was just at the top of my lungs screaming for help. But unfortunately, the air temperature was cold and people weren't out on the lake," said Leffers.
He says his wife showed up out of nowhere on a paddle board and was able to rescue him. He was taken to the hospital with about 40 puncture wounds.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says they are aware of the incident and the otters.
"They have been at Serene Lakes on and off for years. It's a native species in their natural habitat. They can be very territorial. they will protect their family. They will protect their family groups. They will be protective of their hunting and fishing grounds," said CDFW spokesperson Peter Tira.
Tira says river otter attacks are very rare, but not unprecedented. This year alone, the department confirms there have been a total of three attacks at Serene Lakes.
Leffers says his biggest fear now is that the next person these otters attack will be a child and that child will not be able to make it out of the alive.
"There's some fish stocking that's been happening for recreation at these lakes, so we've recommended that we stop fish stocking there to remove some of the food source," said Tira.
This way the otters may move elsewhere.
Leffers says he just wants something done before families return to the water.
"I am terrified that a child is going to be killed. In the spring, somebody's gonna get killed or hurt very badly again, and I feel like I have to tell my story to prevent that," said Leffers.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says they have put some trail cameras up and are monitoring the otters.
There's a community meeting planned at Serene Lakes on Nov. 28 where the department will be present.
